CIAO DATE: 03/07

Journal of Security Sector Management
Published by Global Facilitation Network for Security Sector Reform

 

Volume 4, Issue 4, November 2006

 

• Prospects of SSR in Lebanon (PDF, 19 pages, 156 KB)
  Edouard Belloncle

  Nearly four months after the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, is there an opportunity for the concept of Security Sector Reform (SSR) to shape the reconstruction period in Lebanon? The necessity of a holistic and governance based approach is crucial when one considers the poor management of and the extent of the Syrian influence within the three main Lebanese security institutions, namely the military, the police and the intelligence services. Nevertheless, realistic and sustainable SSR initiatives need to start with the acknowledgement of the limits of the context of Lebanese politics, both with regard to internal and external dimensions. First, the divisions in the society and political communalism in Lebanon have not yet created the conditions for the development of a common national identity in line with the model of the European nation-state from which the concept of SSR is drawn. Second, the democratic reforms of the security institutions are impeded by regional tension and a threatening strategic environment. To serenely engage in the necessary political reform, in line with SSR principles, the new government needs stability and security. This paper concludes that while domestic reforms are largely and necessarily in the Lebanese's hands, the international community can and must act on Lebanese external environment to encourage and facilitate the implementation of SSR in the country. This requires acknowledgment of Lebanon's need for external security. Indeed, in the absence of pressure from all regional power, Israel included, it is unlikely that any attempt to implement SSR in the country will avoid being perceived as an attempt to interfere in Lebanese politics and security.

• Beyond Transition: Challenges of Security Sector Reform and Reconstruction in Liberia (PDF, 9 pages, 82 KB)
  J. Shola Omotola

  This paper looks at the challenges posed by the security sector for the consolidation of the nascent democracy in Liberia. It considers the possible paths for reform and reconstruction of the security sector of Liberia. It also analyses the prospects of enduring reform and reconstruction and sustainable peace, democracy and development. The paper also seeks to highlight the depth of the crisis and contradictions of the security sector, and charts a viable path towards the consolidation of peace, democracy and development in Liberia.

• Security Sector Reform: the role of epistemic communities in the UK (PDF, 20 pages, 130 KB)
  Jennifer Sugden

  The UK has for the past decade been a leader in the field of Security Sector Reform. However little effort appears, to have been directed towards explaining UK's presence at the forefront of SSR, and how SSR emerged on the UK's development agenda. The paper hypothesizes that a network of experts has contributed to the advancement of SSR on the UK government's agenda. This argument is tested in an epistemological framework. Evidence is collected from interviews and documents produced by experts working on security sector governance and reform. Conclusions suggested that an epistemic community exists in the UK field of SSR and, whilst its existence has been greatly spurred by UK government policy, it is suggested that the potential of the community is not fully developed.