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Assessing Defence Reform Since 1990

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Post-conflict Security, Peace and Development

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace ((BRIEFSSECUR,volume 13))

Abstract

Defence reform (DR) was one of the most important original components of security sector reform (SSR). It has innate contractions: between fundamental Western assumptions (such as the liberal peace project) and local values and the tension between major-power national strategic interests and local aims. From 1990, DR programmes have frequently focused on effectiveness, not accountability, based on Western major power interests. But DR processes are difficult and involve significant political challenges therefore quick results are virtually impossible. Taking the long view is important. Ahead, the best results for accountability, effectiveness and sustainability are likely to be via abandoning attempts to intervene for national strategic interests, and only initiating programmes slowly in short steps, when interveners’ and recipients’ values are already closely aligned.

Dr. Colin Robinson is a Visiting Lecturer at the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University, Wellington; Email: colinrobinson1@gmail.com.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Clare Short, “Security, development, and conflict prevention”, speech at Royal College for Defence Studies, London, 13 May 1998. The Center for International Policy and Saferworld together coined the term before the speech. Saferworld hosted a seminar, “Security Sector Reform in Developing Countries”, the same month, and were heavily involved in developing the overall SSR concept.

  2. 2.

    A non-profit organization formed on 14 May 1948 immediately after World War II to connect military planning with research and development decisions. Its goal aimed at furthering and promoting scientific, educational, and charitable purposes for the public welfare and security of the United States https://www.rand.org/about/history.html.

  3. 3.

    Personal conversation with former British Army officer, 15 August 2013.

  4. 4.

    Uganda People’s Defence Forces.

  5. 5.

    In 2008 Mutengesa and Hendrickson wrote that implementation of the review’s findings seemed unlikely.

  6. 6.

    According to Dammert, the term SSR is hardly used, while references to civil–military relations are constant, either explicitly or implicitly.

  7. 7.

    Discussion with Dennis Blease, 20 February 2009.

  8. 8.

    E-mail from US participant, 12 June 2008.

  9. 9.

    Following the severe Zairean weaknesses made plain by the two Shaba conflicts of 1977 and 1978, Belgium and France each began to sponsor an individual combat brigade. (Crawford Young and Thomas Turner, The Rise and Decline of the Zairian State (Madison, WI: Wisconsin University Press, 1985, p. 268).) They were provided with advisers, and were islands of relative professional competence while the remainder of the armed forces was in a state of advanced collapse. These units were capable, to a degree, of being able to conduct operations. But as the advisers were withdrawn in the late 1980s, the brigades’ potential disappeared. Contact with former NCO with USDAO Kinshasa, e-mail correspondence, 8 April 2010.

  10. 10.

    I am grateful to Nicole Ball for emphasising this point. E-mail, 28 November 2015.

  11. 11.

    E-mail from New Zealand scholar–practitioner, 19 December 2015.

  12. 12.

    It was significantly dependent upon the person of National Security Coordinator Kellie Conteh.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Defence and Security Studies, Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

    Colin Robinson

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  1. Colin Robinson
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Correspondence to Colin Robinson .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Convener, Peace, Security and Development Commission, International Peace Research Association, South–South Network Engagement—Africa, Nairobi, Kenya

    Christine Atieno

  2. Wellington, New Zealand

    Colin Robinson

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Robinson, C. (2019). Assessing Defence Reform Since 1990. In: Atieno, C., Robinson, C. (eds) Post-conflict Security, Peace and Development. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace, vol 13. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-01740-8_8

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