• Structures of good governance

Structures of good governance

This study investigates the interface between security, at both the national and regional levels, and democratisation. The paper asserts that security and democratic governance are intertwined. The paper focuses particularly on the South African Development Community (SADC) region, studying its countries as relevant example.

The paper concludes the following:

• Building sustainable peace is a long-term and multi-dimensional process, which ultimately requires accountable and democratic governance.
• The state is not the only agent of security; other agents that complement the activities of the state, such as societal and civil organisations, are equally important.
• However, civil society in itself is not a vehicle for democratisation; it is also in many cases elite-driven.
• The controversial relationship between security and economic co-operation is common to many regional and sub-regional organisations but it is evident that economic co-operation is driven by shared security threat perception.
• Globalisation is an important driver of regional integration, but it tends to weaken already weak states. 
• The democratic transition in the SADC region is still an unfinished business beset with complex endogenous and exogenous challenges. 
• Although mostly still dominant, the ruling parties in SADC countries now have to contend with opposition forces that continuously threaten their hold on power.
• In the SADC region, there has been a move towards a human, rather than a state or regime, security approach. 
• The reformed SADC seems to be pursuing multiple security objectives through various forms and levels of co-operation, including economic and trade integration. It also appears committed to pursuing collaborative security via the Protocol on Politics, Defence, and Security Co-operation.
• Progressively institutionalised co-operation in the area of defence and security is needed if SADC is to move beyond low levels of co-operation
  

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