Security Sector Reform and Democracy in Transitional Societies

The publication examines recent developments in thinking and practice of security sector reform and democratisation of civil-military relations in transitional societies. Focusing especially on the post-socialist states of Central and Eastern Europe, the book documents and assesses the efforts of newly democratic governments, parliaments and civil societies to implement effective democratic control and accountability of those state institutions charged with guarding national security. Distinct regional characteristics of post-communist civil-military relations emerge, including the low risk and incidence of military coups in post-communist politics; the politicisation of high levels of public administration; the struggle within the executive branch over control of armies; but also the generally salutary effects of the NATO and EU enlargement processes on reform efforts. Parliaments and nascent civil societies remain rather weak and ineffectual as mechanisms of oversight over the defence and security sphere. Nevertheless, contributors acknowledge the growing appreciation of the need to deal with deeply engrained norms, values and beliefs. On a more general level, the book points to the broadening of the agenda and the emergence of ‘security sector reform’ as a tool and concept for policy and research. All contributions are based on the workshops on democratic control of armed forces at the 4th International Security Conference, Geneva, November 15-17, 2000. The book is an initiative of the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF).