CIAO DATE: 02/2010
January 2010
United States Institute of Peace
It is generally agreed that security sector reform (SSR) involves improving the performance of the uniformed security services of the state and the executive ministries that are responsible for their oversight. What is overlooked in this definition is the fact that SSR is fundamentally a political process that concerns control of power, the exercise of authority, the allocation of critical resources and establishing legitimacy. This is especially true in conflict countries and particularly those engaged in peace or stability operations. In these cases, legislative oversight of the security sector is crucial to ensure that security policies and expenditures are undertaken with full transparency, accountability and concern for other national priorities.
Resource link: Congress and Parliaments in Security Sector Reform [PDF] - 734K