When Rambo Meets the Red Cross: Civil-Military Engagement in Fragile States

Speaker: Dr. Stanislava P. Mladenova (Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, Brown University; Irregular Warfare Initiative, US Military Academy at West Point)

Date: 6 December 2024

Speaker Session Summary

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their military counterparts often have a confrontational relationship, with both sides suggesting that the other should “stay in their respective lanes.” This tension stems from fundamental differences in their missions and perceptions. Dr. Mladenova described NGOs as being stereotyped as “benevolent do-gooders,” while military operators are evaluated based on their potential for lethality. This dichotomy makes cooperation between these two groups appear unlikely. However, the threat environment requires closer collaboration between NGOs and military operators, particularly special operations forces (SOF), breaking down traditional barriers to partnership. 

Fragile, ungoverned, and insecure regions increasingly require both the security provided by military forces and the humanitarian aid delivered by NGOs. Dr. Mladenova highlighted how military commands and NGOs are adapting their operations, recognizing that both seek to improve and strengthen communities, or alleviate humanitarian crisis. Furthermore, all military operations must incorporate a human dimension, making intelligence sharing between NGOs and military operators essential. Dr. Mladenova referred to individuals facilitating this collaboration as “bridge builders,” who possess a unique ability to be introspective and prioritize relationships as much, if not more than, immediate results.  

While there are significant opportunities for cooperation, important differences remain. For example, Dr. Mladenova noted disparities in financial transparency. NGOs must demonstrate accountability to donors, ensuring funds are not misused, whereas military operations are not subject to the same level of donor scrutiny. Nonetheless, similarities between NGOs and SOF—such as their ability to operate as small, autonomous units—are increasingly evident. This is especially true as NGOs grow in size and complexity, often focusing on the same geographic regions as military operators. 

Speaker Session Recording

Briefing Materials

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Biography: Dr. Stanislava P. Mladenova is a Global Fellow at Brown University’s Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Studies, and Fellow at the Irregular Warfare Initiative at the US Military Academy at West Point. Her work has brought her to Africa, Central and South Asia, South America, and the Balkans. She has held positions at various institutions, including the United States Institute of Peace, working in West Africa to establish dialogue between security actors and local communities. As a Political Advisor for NATO in Afghanistan, she helped shape policy on economic issues, governance, corruption, disaster management, humanitarian assistance, and the recruitment of child soldiers. Her research at the Department of War Studies at King’s College London focused on the functional relationship between military and civilian entities in settings affected by low-intensity conflict and state fragility.