How can the Afghan government and international supporters engage most effectively with non-state actors in community-based policing? The distinct characteristics and context of the Arbakai is an example of the diversity of armed non-state actors (ANSA) in Afghanistan. This diversity necessitates nuanced thinking about the role of and engagement with ANSA. There is a move to ...» 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.
The Security Sector in Afghanistan: Slow and Unsteady
What is the state of the security sector in Afghanistan? Have recent reforms been successful? This article presents an overview of the Afghan National Army and police, the courts and judiciary, prisons and security intelligence elements. It argues that uneven distribution of international funding means uneven reform. International reform and Western security models are useful ...» more
Afghanistan’s Police: The Weak Link in Security Sector Reform
Despite nearly $10 billion in international police assistance, the Afghan police are riddled with corruption and incompetence. This report reviews past failures and current challenges facing the international police assistance programme in Afghanistan. The US strategy for the Afghan police is to increase numbers, enlarge the 'train and equip' programme, and engage the police ...» more
The Rule-of-Law Mission in Georgia (EUJUST Themis)
How successful was the European Union’s 2004-2005 Rule of Law mission in Georgia? This chapter analyses the experience of the first rule-of-law mission undertaken under the European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP). EUJUST Themis aimed to assist the government to develop an overarching criminal justice reform strategy based on local ownership. The mission was a stand-alone ...» more
The Integrated Rule of Law Mission for Iraq (EUJUST LEX)
How successful was the European Union’s 2005 Integrated Rule-of-Law mission in Iraq? This chapter of a book reviewing European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) analyses the experience of the ESDP’s EUJUST LEX Mission. This mission was established (following an assessment by the EU Council’s ‘Iraq Expert Team’) to provide training to high and mid-level officials in senior ...» more
The EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM)
What can be learned from previous security and defence operations? This chapter describes the EU Police Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUPM). This was the first European Security and Defence Policy (ESDP) operation and is still ongoing. The EUPM has helped transform the Bosnian police into a professional service and made progress in bringing institutions and practices into ...» more
The EU Police Mission (EUPOL Proxima) and the European Union Police Advisory Team (EUPAT) in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia
How successful has European Union (EU) support to the Macedonian Police been? This chapter analyses experiences between 2003 and 2006 of the EU Police Mission to Macedonia (Proxima) and its successor, the EU Police Advisory Team (EUPAT). The programmes were undertaken in the context of a fragile peace, but with police being gradually redeployed to former crisis areas.Proxima ...» more
Security Sector Governance in South Asia: An Introduction
What security challenges face South Asian states, and how can security sector governance (SSG) be improved to facilitate effective responses? What is the potential for security cooperation in the region? The principal security challenges to all states in South Asia are terrorism and insurgency. In terms of SSG, it is important to increase transparency and accountability. South ...» more
Pragmatic Realism in Justice and Security Development: Supporting Improvement in the Performance of Non-State/Local Justice and Security Networks
What policy challenges and opportunities do donors face in seeking to strengthen the effectiveness of non-state/local justice and security networks? This paper recommends an approach of pragmatic realism that acknowledges the multi-layered pluralism of the post-colonial state and accommodates the flexibility and nuances of non-state/local networks. Donors must make a ...» more
Military Politics, Ethnicity and Conflict in Indonesia
How has the changing political role of Indonesian National Army (TNI) impacted the military's ability to deal with domestic conflict? This paper examines the impact of the recent reduction of the TNI's role in politics on its ability to handle ethnic identity problems and violent conflicts. While the TNI has undergone reform since the late 1990s, it still claims a role as a ...» more
Gender and Transitional Justice in Africa: Progress and Prospects
Various models of transitional justice (TJ) have developed throughout Africa, but they have often failed to adequately address gender-based violence. While recent African TJ mechanisms have been innovative in developing means to address crimes against women, they continue to fail victims. Future TJ initiatives need to re-examine the types of violations prioritised, and ...» more
War, Peace and Progress: Conflict, Development, (In)security and Violence in the 21st Century
The contemporary struggle to significantly address violence and insecurity highlights the existence of a double crisis in the system of nation-states and in global development. This Third World Quarterly paper, the introduction to the publication’s 30th anniversary issue, examines the contemporary crisis of both the nation-state system and global development. Despite the ...» more
Research Report on International Standards for Police Reform
Despite existing international and regional legal frameworks that provide standards and codes of conduct for police forces, many African states are not implementing them. This Institute for Democracy in South Africa paper summarises international, regional and donor standards, concepts and guidelines relevant to police work. States need to develop both the political will and ...» more
Security Sector Reform in the DRC: Forward to the Past
What are the links between politics and security sector reform (SSR) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)? This chapter argues that SSR should be understood as a political process, rather than as a purely technical issue. Obstacles to reform include the absence of effective oversight mechanisms and donor fragmentation. SSR efforts (encompassing the army, police, ...» more
Security Sector Reform in Challenging Environments: Insights from Comparative Analysis
What are the key challenges and opportunities for security sector reform (SSR) in difficult contexts? This chapter compares SSR in the Central African Republic (CAR), Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Georgia, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste. It finds a significant gap between the theory and practice of SSR. A practical approach is needed that gives ...» more
Limited Security Sector Reform in Colombia
Can the concept of Security Sector Reform (SSR) be applied to Colombia? How should such reforms be implemented? This chapter outlines the limited SSR process in Colombia, which has concentrated on increasing the effectiveness of the state in fighting internal conflict, not necessarily on improving democratic governance. The need to extend and complete SSR in Colombia is ...» more
Impatient Reformers and Reignited Conflicts: The Case of Georgia
What is the impact of the wider political process on security sector reform (SSR) in Georgia? This chapter analyses how and why SSR has taken place in Georgia, the context in which it operates and key lessons learned. It argues that SSR is inextricably linked to broader national and international political processes. International best practice fails to consider the narrow ...» more
A Lot of Talk But Not a Lot of Action: The Difficulty of Implementing SSR in Timor-Leste
Why is it difficult to turn security sector reform (SSR) policy into reality? This chapter from Security Sector Reform in Challenging Environments examines progress in implementing SSR in Timor-Leste. The concept remains hard to explain and has struggled to find a place within existing institutional structures. SSR is still approached as a dry, mechanical exercise without ...» more
The Nepali Security Sector: An Almanac
What lessons can be learned from the process of democratising Nepal's security sector and what are the challenges ahead? This edited volume examines the Nepali security sector in relation to: the legislature-parliament; the executive; security providers; security-related actors; and civil society and the media. It argues that security sector reform should be based on a holistic ...» more
Poster Boys No More: Gender and Security Sector Reform in Timor-Leste
Gender roles play a central role in East Timor’s security sector reform (SSR) and have the potential to increase or undermine security sector professionalism. This paper, published by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, reviews recent security sector developments in East Timor and assesses its SSR from a gender perspective. Comprehensive ...» more
