Security Sector Reform in Southeast Asia

Security Sector Reform: Prospects and Problems

• The article examines the prospects and challenges of security sector reform (SSR) in Southeast Asia, particularly focusing on the need for legitimate, effective, and accountable security forces for long-term development and democratization.
• The theory and practice of security sector reform (SSR) is relatively new, emerging from the recognition that development and security are interdependent.
• Long-term development or democratization programs cannot succeed without stable security provided by legitimate, democratically accountable security forces.
• Aid donors have a responsibility to promote good governance in the security sector to assist broader development programs.
• Security sector reform (SSR) represents an opportunity to improve regional peace and security by creating security sectors capable of effectively performing their tasks, but implementation faces significant challenges.
• Reforms may be perceived as imposed by outsiders, leading to resistance and potential instability.
• Reforms may also prompt states to redirect resources from other activities to fund professionalization programs in the armed forces.
• East Timor's security sector reform is presented as a case study illustrating the complexities of SSR, highlighting challenges in creating armed forces.
• The "new aid paradigm" recognizes the interdependence of security and development.
• The article argues that security sector reform requires consideration of civil-military relations, human security, and the impact of external assistance on development and democratization.
• The article suggests that security sector reform aims to create legitimate and effective armed forces and includes their integration into civilian oversight as well as improved military professionalism.
• Security sector reform requires attention to normative barriers to military intervention in politics, permitting the creation of robust civilian institutions.
• The article explores the challenges that SSR faces in democratization, the costs associated with military professionalism, and the potential for instability.
• Problems of military development are emphasized, including the significant costs of professionals forces as well as challenges in establishing and maintaining security sectors.
• Development problems are highlighted, including the need for adequate financing, maintaining funding over time, and the potential for instability due to financial constraints.
• The article discusses the problems of imposing externally driven security sector reforms on already fragile institutions.
• Issues of internal vs. external security are highlighted in the case of post-conflict situations.
• The article makes the argument that the effectiveness of SSR rests upon its ownership among local actors, rather than imposition from external forces.