Although security sector reform (SSR) is an evolving and contested concept, and lessons learned are relatively scarce, it now shapes international development assistance programmes, security cooperation and democracy promotion. This book, published by the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces, assesses SSR in various global regions and the challenges currently facing reform and reconstruction. The most important requirements for SSR and reconstruction are to ensure immediate basic individual security while implementing comprehensive, multi-dimensional, long-term peacebuilding activities.
The security concept now recognises that it is individuals and groups that need protection, rather than the state itself. Political, economic, societal and environmental aspects are now part of the security agenda. The broader security concept also includes civil society and non-statutory forces, and a regional and trans-regional dimension.
SSR contains two normative elements: affordable, capable security bodies; and effective, democratic security oversight mechanisms. SSR is also increasingly accepted in three contexts: developmental, post-authoritarian and post-conflict states.
Recurring themes among the contributors´ analyses include the lack of coordination and policy coherence in external interventions, and under-utilisation of regional approaches as engines for SSR. Other issues, listed by region, include:
- Euro-Atlantic: Requiring SSR as a pre-condition to joining the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization has had a positive impact in central and eastern Europe. However, states are reluctant to reduce force structures; lack of resources, budgeting and planning capabilities hinder reform. Western Balkans SSR faces a legacy of armed conflict, ethnic cleansing and security sector ethnicisation.
- West Africa: Security sectors have been sources of insecurity, states don’t possess a monopoly of the legitimate use of force, and many security threats are cross-border in nature. Security sector reconstruction has been limited. Many states do not see post-conflict security needs of citizens as a priority, and do not recognise the links between peace and nation-building.
- Middle East: There is no regional SSR approach. An evolving strategic environment may become a significant SSR driver as there is a shared perception that internal security threats are the greatest danger in the region. The few existing security oversight frameworks are both under-funded and under-used.
- Iraq and Afghanistan/special cases: Basic physical security does not exist. The Iraqi government has yet to define threats and national security objectives to shape the role of armed and security forces. Afghanistan suffers from weak policy making and implementation capacity, protracted guerrilla insurgency and a criminalised economy.
External approaches to SSR and reconstruction need improved coordination, planning and policy coherence. Other recommendations include:
- implementing a strong, initial focus on physical security for citizens, particularly in post-conflict environments;
- expanding the use of the regional SSR approach;
- increasing the predictability of delivery of resources;
- establishing local ownership of and involve civil society in reform efforts; and
- sequencing SSR within the broader framework of reconstruction and democratisation.
