Security Sector Reform: Narrowing the Gap between Theory and Practice

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to assess the obstacles and opportunities for SSR in environments that are barely conducive to ideal‐type SSR. For this purpose the paper gathered insights and lessons from a number of specific SSR experiences (notably in the Central African Republic, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Georgia, Morocco, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor‐Leste), as well as drawing on the experiences of researchers and practitioners involved in the design and implementation of SSR projects. SSR is a highly political process, shifting and reshuffling power relationships in government, the security sector and society. If pursued as intended – shifting power over a society’s security provision from the few to the many – SSR puts security institutions in the service of an empowered society. It is thus part and parcel of democratisation efforts and the strengthening of good governance in transition societies.