What dynamics influence the democratic governance of the security sector in Southern Africa? This paper reports on a workshop that brought together regional experts, academics, civil society representatives and national and regional security practitioners. Participants found that, despite apparent democratic transitions in many states, deficits of security governance, ...» more
Library
This e-library contains more than 4500 external publications on governance, social development, conflict and humanitarian issues. It includes academic and grey literature selected for its basis in good quality research and coverage of a range of perspectives. Policy-oriented summaries of each document are provided, plus links to the full text.
Linking DDR and SSR in Post Conflict Peace-building in Africa: An Overview
What are the linkages between disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration (DDR) and Security Sector Reform (SSR)? This paper argues that there is a complementary relationship between DDR and SSR, and that they should be better integrated in peace building. Despite sharing the same objectives of contributing to peace and stability, few attempts have been made to link DDR and ...» more
Improving Security Policy in Colombia
How can the Colombian government consolidate security gains and improve security policy? This briefing recommends that the new government acknowledge that Colombia has still not reached the post-conflict phase. The government needs to: maintain pressure on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC); develop and implement a comprehensive citizen security strategy; tackle ...» more
Cocaine and Instability in Africa: Lessons from Latin America and the Caribbean
What impact is rising cocaine trafficking having in Africa? What can be learnt from Latin America and the Caribbean? This report warns that cocaine traffic contributes to higher levels of violence and instability. West Africa today has many of the conditions that enabled narcotics-related violence in Latin America and the Caribbean. The damaging influence of narcotics ...» more
Searching for Aid Effectiveness in Small Arms Assistance
What could aid effectiveness mean in the context of small arms and light weapons (SALW)? How could existing frameworks and processes best be used to improve SALW assistance? States need to build longer-term and strategic approaches at the international and regional levels, and to take more immediate steps to improve the management, evaluation and measurement of SALW ...» more
Local Defence in Afghanistan: A Review of Government-backed Initiatives
Have government-backed initiatives supporting informal armed groups improved security in Afghanistan? This report analyses the Afghanistan National Auxiliary Police (ANAP), the Afghan Public Protection Programme (AP3), and the Local Defence Initiative (LDI). These entail support to informal armed groups to provide security, particularly in areas where the Taleban is gaining ...» more
Golden Surrender: The Risks, Challenges, and Implications of Reintegration in Afghanistan
What are the challenges and risks involved in the reintegration of insurgents in Afghanistan? This paper argues that reintegration is more complex and difficult to accomplish than is commonly appreciated. Obstacles include lack of trust, insurgent cohesion and revenge attacks. A well-executed reintegration scheme could have social and economic benefits and reduce insurgency. ...» more
Preventing Diversion of Small Arms and Light Weapons: Strengthening Border Management under the UN Programme of Action
How can governments and international actors develop effective border controls to implement the 2001 UN SALW Programme of Action and other agreements? Efforts to prevent the diversion of small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their trafficking across borders must be undertaken within a comprehensive framework which recognises: the breadth and complexity of SALW proliferation ...» more
Guatemala: Squeezed between Crime and Impunity
The 1996 peace accords formally ended Guatemala's civil war, but failure to address the conflict's root causes and to dismantle clandestine security apparatus has weakened its institutions and opened the door to skyrocketing violent crime. The UN-sanctioned International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) has made some progress in addressing high-level corruption, ...» more
Mapping the Security Development Nexus: Conflict, Complexity, Cacophony, Convergence?
Attention to the security-development nexus has become commonplace in policymaking. But how has this concept been interpreted and used? This article suggests a framework for mapping the security-development nexus. The 'nexus' is being used to describe a growing realm, but there is still confusion and ideological division over its meaning. The unclear content and form of the ...» more
The Rule of Law in Independent Kosovo
More than two years after declaring independence, Kosovo struggles with uneven rule of law and a weak justice system that is failing its citizens. This report surveys Kosovo’s domestic legal system and recommends national and international actions to address systemic weaknesses. Above all, Kosovo’s President, government and Assembly must fully support efforts to curb high-level ...» more
The New Security in Democratic South Africa: A Cautionary Tale
What has been the impact in South Africa of the 'new security'? This article argues that the security-is-development thesis affects the functions of security agencies and is used to legitimate anti-democratic behaviour. In South Africa, a broad and deep vision of security promoted by inexperienced policymakers has contributed to the involvement of intelligence agents in ...» more
Security Provision in Bangladesh: A Public Perceptions Survey
What are citizens' perceptions of the security sector in Bangladesh? What are the lessons for security sector reform? This paper reports results of a public perceptions survey on the police, army, the Rapid Action Battalion, defence parties and border guards. While citizens of Bangladesh feel safer today and crime has declined slightly, a large number of challenges remain that ...» more
Security and Stabilization in Somalia: Learning from Local Approaches
What is the most promising way forward for security and stabilisation processes in Somalia? This article points to the convergence of Somali-led experiences of security management and emerging international best practice as a fruitful approach. Peace processes must include negotiations on credible security mechanisms if they are to be effective. The development of credible ...» more
Rethinking small arms control in Africa: it is time to set an armed violence reduction agenda
Why are the outcomes of small arms control initiatives in Africa not more successful? How can they be improved? Arms availability is usually understood in terms of the supply-side. However, interventions focusing on regulation and containment have achieved fewer dividends than expected. A broader concept of arms availability is required, which accounts for both supply and ...» more
Fighting Corruption in Security Sector Reform
How can corruption in security sector reform (SSR) be addressed? This Brief highlights the highly political and context-specific nature of corruption. Donors must ensure that anti-corruption programmes are consistent with local standards and political will. It is important to coordinate anti-corruption programmes, and to address both low- and high-level corruption ...» more
Disarming Somalia: Lessons in Stabilisation from a Collapsed State
What role may ill-conceived, externally driven stabilisation efforts play in prolonging the Somali conflict? What can be learned from disarmament and demobilisation efforts in southern Somalia, Puntland and Somaliland? This article finds that externally driven initiatives have been viewed with suspicion and alarm, while Somali-led, locally owned initiatives have achieved some ...» more
A Force in Fragments: Reconstituting the Afghan National Army
How can the fragmented Afghan National Army (ANA) attain the unified national character required? This paper finds that ethnic frictions and political factionalism at high levels in the Ministry of Defence and general staff have stunted the army's growth, and structural flaws have undermined the military's ability to operate independently. Military aid currently empowers ...» more
Supporting SSR in the DRC: Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Since the beginning of the Transition Period in 2003, international partners have invested considerable resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)'s justice, police and defence sectors under the banner of Security Sector Reform (SSR). Nonetheless the consensus is that progress in SSR has been limited. The formidable challenges in this area do not seem to have been ...» more
Enhancing Security Sector Governance in the Pacific Region – A Strategic Framework
Promoting security institutions (such as the police, military, customs, border management and prison services) which are transparent, accountable and fully aware of their roles and responsibilities is one of the key security challenges in the Pacific region. This paper examines the need for a new strategic security framework in the Pacific to complement existing reform efforts. ...» more
