‘Promoting peace and democracy through security sector reform’, insights #79

Since the late 1990s, security sector reform (SSR) has emerged as a principal activity for promoting peace and stability, and a priority for donors in post-conflict countries. This issue of insights explores the concept of SSR as a coordinated, comprehensive approach to reforming the entire security system, to improve security governance and promote respect for human rights. The articles illustrate a diversity of political terrains and unevenness in progress between and within regions, and between states and their security sectors.

Topics covered include:

• Understanding international influences on security reform in Africa 
• Making progress in Francophone Africa 
• Mixed outcomes in southern Africa 
• The centrality of SSR to political reform in Arab countries 
• Partial reforms and new challenges in Latin America 
• Agenda reforms needed in South Asia 
• Democratisation and reform in South-East Asia

The articles illustrate a diversity of political terrains and unevenness in progress between and within regions, and between states and their security sectors. They show that SSR has resulted in very mixed approaches and outcomes.