What is next for the UK having re-committed themselves to the security-justice agenda? What issues must be considered if success is to be achieved? This article suggests what these issues might be and how best they can be approached. The article firstly provides a brief background to the UK’s commitment to the security-justice agenda and development, followed by key recommendations: the need for conceptual clarity; revamping the international influence campaign; and professionalising the business.
After a decade of the UK’s approach of linking security and development following the Secretary of State for International Development, Clare Short, decision to put Security Sector Reform (SSR) on the development agenda, the UK is re-committing itself to this concept. In the last ten years, the UK has worked in various countries including Afghanistan and some Africa countries, such as Sierra Leone, to link security issues to the development agenda. The UK has successfully influenced and encouraged the development of core documents such as the OECD DAC’s Guidelines on SSR and the adoption of the concept by the United Nations (UN). It is through DFID’s 2009 White Paper – Building our common future – that this goal is refocused and re-emphasised.
Welcoming this renewed commitment, the author outlines and discussed three key issues which must be considered if a continued successful security-development agenda is to be set up and achieved. These included:
- A need for conceptual clarity – despite increasing progress as how to place security and justice reform on the development agenda, there is still no clearly outlined policy as to how to commit to it. This issue needs to consider related issues such as linking practice and theory and, more importantly, the necessity of including practical challenges such as political will and local ownership at the top of the policy programme and domestic reform.
- A revamped international strategy – this element of the UK’s work is crucial as it is through collective action that a successful and efficient security and justice development reform can be achieved in practice. However, to do so the UK must practice what it preaches, seriously engage itself with the US government, work towards uniting the existing multilateral mechanisms, and lastly it must respect the need for local ownership by avoiding the imposition of Northern templates.
- Professionalising the business – there is a fundamental need to develop the international capacity to design and deliver security and justice reform and development as one concept. If this relatively new profession is to gain support from the donors, it must continue to develop a work ethos which will reflect what the aims are and how they can be achieved. This element does not only incorporate actors in the North but also to enhance southern capacities and promote local ownership.
The article concludes with key recommendations as to what the UK must do next to recommit itself to the security-justice development agenda. The UK should:
- support the improvement of security and justice systems in fragile and conflict-affected states;
- help to build accountable and effective security sectors in developing states;
- invest in building UK capacity that could underpin an integrated international influencing campaign; and
- develop a more integrated and professional approach to security and justice development.
