Security Sector Governance In The Western Balkans

This is the first installment of an annual publication of the Geneva Centre for Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) providing ongoing analysis of security sector governance and reform efforts in the Western Balkans. Part I addresses regional and international themes, including regional and European integration, economic development, security sector reform in general, norms transfer, military spending, and border security. Part II includes analyses of the reform efforts of each country: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia.

Security Sector Reform (SSR) is increasingly becoming a cornerstone in international security and development cooperation. Indeed, the concept has often been seen as a panacea for many of the biggest threats to the world such as failed states, terrorism and poverty. In particular, this book focuses on the complexities of implementation of SSR across the globe and the actual and potential role for the European Union (EU) to play in SSR. As suggested in the title of the book, this involves not only opportunities, but challenges to be overcome as well. There are three core themes to this book: Policy, Policies and Practice. By presenting the themes in this particular order a greater appreciation of the influences on the process of SSR, from conception to implementation is relayed to the reader. This volume appeals to audiences interested in the EU as a global actor and the interrelationships between foreign, security, defence and development policies.

"Security sector reform (SSR) is widely recognised as key to conflict prevention, peace-building, sustainable development and democratisation. SSR has gained most practical relevance in the context of post-conflict reconstruction of so-called failed states' and states emerging from violent internal or inter-state conflict. As this volume shows, almost all states need to reform their security sectors to a greater or lesser extent, according to the specific security, political and socio-economic contexts, as well as in response to the new security challenges resulting from globalisation and post-9/11 developments. Contributions from academics and practitioners elaborate on both the conceptual underpinnings and the practical realities of security sector reform and - a crucial aspect of post-conflict peace-building - security sector reconstruction. "

In the early 1990s, the Western Balkans were the scene of prolonged and bloody inter-ethnic wars. Numerous issues remain unresolved; Bosnia is a dysfunctional state; Kosovo a disputed territory; Macedonia a fragile republic, however, it is hard now to imagine the renewal of inter-state armed conflict. Investigating the causes and mechanisms driving peaceful transformation in the Balkans, this book examines developments in the region and contributes to discussions on security community building. Focusing on how different professional communities work together in the creation of regional peace and security, it sheds new light on how diplomats, policemen, soldiers and others brought about the transformation from conflict to peace through their everyday practices. Conducted collaboratively by a research community based within the region, this volume will be highly relevant to scholars and researchers studying the Balkans, regional security, security communities and policymakers.

For most countries, security today is primarily measured in non-military terms and threats to security are non-military in nature. These threats include incompetent government, corruption, organized crime, insecure borders, smuggling, illegal migration, ethnic and religious conflict, and, of course, terrorism.

With the European Union's 2004 round of enlargement, its neighbourhood now stretches from the Balkans to the Southern Caucasus, and from Russia to the Southern Mediterranean. This new neighbourhood suffers from serious deficits in terms of security, development and democracy, which constitute a serious challenge for the EU's own security. It is clear, however, that no genuine political and economic modernisation can be carried out as long as defence and security sectors remain unaccountable to civilian authorities, lack transparency and waste valuable national resources. This Chaillot Paper examines to what extent the EU is able to address the question of security sector reform and governance with its neighbours. Although increasingly engaged in the promotion of security sector governance, the EU has neither developed a comprehensive policy framework, nor mainstreamed its manifold activities aimed at promoting security sector governance. Moreover, it pursues the reform of security institutions such as police forces, border guards or judicial systems on a piecemeal basis, shying away from involving itself in defence-related aspects of security sector governance, even though ESDP operations are increasingly dealing with post-conflict situations that require the reform and reintegration of military forces. The main policy recommendation advanced by this Chaillot Paper is that the EU should develop a holistic approach to promoting security sector governance in its neighbourhood.