This report contains the findings of the Final Project Evaluation of the Good Governance and Equity in Political Participation in Post-Conflict Sudan (GGEPP) project. The GGEPP project’s objectives were to: enhance the capacities of potential Sudanese women leaders and institutions impacting women’s political participationraise the Sudanese public’s awareness of good 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.
Courting Social Justice in Health and Education
This research brief summarises findings from a widely-cited book: Gauri, V., and Brinks, D. M. (Eds.). (2008). Courting Social Justice: Judicial Enforcement of Social and Economic Rights in the Developing World Cambridge University Press. The book documents the impact of courts on policymaking across the developing world. Five country cases – Brazil, India, Indonesia, ...» more
Thailand: Military Rule, There and Back Again?
What does the reformist-led 2006 military coup suggest regarding the state of security sector reform in Thailand? This chapter highlights a profound contradiction between the logic and direction of superficial 'fine-tuning' reforms and the (more influential) underlying military culture that promotes military involvement in politics. Greater attention must be paid to ...» more
Securing Southeast Asia: The Politics of Security Sector Reform
To what extent has security sector reform taken hold in Southeast Asia? What are its main drivers and inhibitors? This book focuses on Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia. It finds that although the region's governments and security forces have adopted the language of professionalism and reform, entrenched institutions and interests have largely blocked ...» more
Malaysia: Constitutionalism Corrupted?
Malaysia's low-profile military is a beacon of professionalism in Southeast Asia, but while formal civil-military relations seem to reflect Western-style 'constitutionalist' security governance, the reality is more complex. In addition, the influential, corrupt and politicised police force is in particular need of reform. The police and judiciary promote regime maintenance ...» more
Police Restructuring in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Problems of Internationally led Security Sector Reform
What factors have undermined the implementation of security sector reform in Bosnia-Herzegovina? This article reviews the reform process, analysing the key political actors and debates. It argues that the international community's attempt to restructure the police force failed due to its implications for the country's ethno-political power-sharing model. Future efforts at ...» more
The ‘Guaranteeing Law and Order Doctrine’ and the Increased Role of the Brazilian Army in Activities of Public Security
This paper examines the increasing militarisation of Brazilian public security. It argues that the development of democracy is constrained by politicised armed forces and militarised police. Confusing security governance and institutional arrangements and the involvement of the army in policing constrain the development of democracy.In Brazil, policing duties are undertaken by ...» more
Paradoxes of Police Reform: Federalism, Parties, and Civil Society in Argentina’s Public Security Crisis
Why is police reform in Argentina so difficult? This article examines three obstacles to police reform: 1) federal institutions that magnify the effects of disputes over the police among national, provincial, and municipal government; 2) illicit benefits for political parties from unreformed police forces; and 3) deep ideological divisions within civil society over the ...» more
A Preference for Deference: Reforming the Military’s Intelligence Role in Argentina, Chile and Peru
Why has intelligence service reform in Latin America been so limited? This paper examines intelligence services in Argentina, Chile and Peru. It focuses on the number of institutions involved in overseeing reform, the degree of presidential control and the extent to which military intelligence activities are overseen by the civilian government. Reform has been limited in terms ...» more
The Difficulties of Donor Coordination: Police and Judicial Reform in Mozambique
After over a decade of SSR assistance in Mozambique coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), what lessons have been – or could be – learned? This chapter considers the UNDP's SSR activities in Mozambique from the organisation's initial involvement during the last stages of the DDR programme to the beginning of 2005. It finds that a fragmented approach to ...» more
A Hard Place: The United States and the Creation of a New Security Apparatus in Iraq
How can security institutions be reconstructed in a post-war context of military occupation? What can be learned from SSR attempts in Iraq between 2003 and 2005? This chapter finds that SSR in Iraq was a poorly designed and haphazardly implemented experiment in rapid institutional transformation that facilitated increasing lawlessness and insurgency. Lessons include the ...» more
Regional Security in Southern Africa Development Community: Perspectives on Security Challenges
What are the key security challenges facing the countries of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC)? This chapter highlights the importance of: sub-regional conflicts, migration and xenophobia, democracy and governance, regional institutional structures, environmental and water issues, HIV, and security sector reform. It finds that in spite of many achievements, ...» more
State Responsiveness to Public Security Needs: The Politics of Security Decision-Making – Uganda Country Study
How can security sector reform (SSR) become better attuned to the factors that affect the Ugandan state's responsiveness in the security domain? This study finds that the character of decision-making and the quality of responsiveness depends on historical factors, the country's socioeconomic set-up, its political culture and the international environment. Decision-making ...» more
Policing in Post-Conflict Environment: Implications for Police Reform in Uganda
How successful have attempts been to improve post-conflict policing in northern Uganda? This article finds that the police have achieved some successes, particularly regarding de-mining activities. However, police reform is required immediately to ensure the protection of the people's human rights, and to combat inequality in the provision of policing services. Priorities ...» more
Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration in Uganda
To what extent has disarmament, demobilisation, reinsertion and reintegration (DDRR) programming in Uganda been integrated or co-ordinated with SSR, small arms control, transitional assistance, and long-term development programming? This case study finds that some attempts have been made to establish connections. However, substantive integration or co-ordination has been ...» more
Ballots to Bullets: Organised Political Violence and Kenya’s Crisis of Governance
What was the role of the Kenyan government and police in the violence that unfolded after Kenya's rigged December 2007 general election? This report outlines police use of excessive force against protestors, ethnic-based killings and reprisals by supporters aligned to both the ruling and opposition parties. It finds that the violence resulted from decades of political ...» more
Comparing DDR and Durable Solutions: Some Lessons from Ethiopia
What can be learned from the largely successful demobilisation and reintegration programme (DRP) that took place in Ethiopia following the war with Eritrea (1998-2000)? This article identifies lessons applicable both to programmes promoting DDR and to those promoting 'durable solutions' (repatriation, resettlement or return) for the displaced. Genuinely sustainable ...» more
Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector in West Africa: Republic of Cape Verde
What is the current status and functioning of the Cape Verde parliament and its oversight of the security sector? This chapter examines the specialised committees responsible for scrutiny of the security sector. It finds that Cape Verde is consciously building a framework for democratic control of the security sector, and that parliament has played an important role in securing ...» more
Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector in West Africa: Mali
How accurate is the perception of Mali as one of the most advanced African countries with regard to democratic oversight of the security sector? This chapter argues that although Mali has come a long way (and in some respects presents examples of civil-military relations that other countries could learn from), weaknesses in parliamentary oversight remain. Old habits of secrecy ...» more
Parliamentary Oversight of the Security Sector in West Africa: Benin
Why has the principle of parliamentary oversight of the security sector, asserted since Benin's independence, been poorly implemented? This study highlights logistical, human resource and institutional weaknesses, particularly repeated military incursions into the political arena. While the situation has improved since the 1990 Conférence Nationale, the national assembly must ...» more
