Wednesday, December 11, 2013
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, November 25, 2013
Developments in the Gulf Region: Prospects and Challenges for India in the Next Two Decades - Rumel Dahiya
This volumes examines the current emerging social, political, economic and security trends in the Gulf Region and likely trajectory of events and plausible scenarios for the next two decades to help policy makers in India to prepare for a variety of contingencies in a region of immense importance to India.
Some of the key findings include: the likelihood of political instability persisting in the region in the near to long term; almost certain impact of the unfinished Arab Spring on Gulf monarchies; continuation of external power politics and the sharpening sectarian divide playing their part impacting stability in the region; undiminished geo-economic importance of the region despite shift to use of clean and renewable sources of energy and shale gas revolution in USA because of increasing appetite for oil and gas in the Asian countries. The region’s importance for India in the field of trade and commerce as also a destination for migrant workers is also likely to persist creating economic interdependence between India and the Gulf region.
Some key recommendations are: India should prepare to play a larger role in the shaping of an inclusive regional security architecture; balance its interests between the GCC and Iran and build trust and mutual confidence with all the countries in the region without taking sides; enhance defence diplomacy and institutionalize defence relations with all the countries in the region; proactively invest in energy infrastructure development in the region; actively drive creation of network of pipelines and port(s) to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, and; prepare detailed contingency plans for evacuation and rehabilitation of Indian migrants to meet any adverse contingency.
Stability and Growth in South Asia - Sumita Kumar
http://www.idsa.in/system/files/book_stabilitySouthAsia.pdf
Friday, November 1, 2013
China Yearbook 2012
An annual publication from the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), The China Yearbook 2012 is a round-up of events and issues of significance that occurred in China during the past year and covers important developments in the domestic and foreign policy spheres.
The second of the series, this Yearbook comprises twelve chapters and a chronology of important events through 2012. The first section reviews internal issues including the 18th Party Congress of the Communist Party of China, state-society relations, China’s economic growth, and developments in the military sphere. The second section examines China’s external relations including those with India and countries of South Asia, the United States, East Asia, Central Asia and important foreign policy developments across the globe. The third section explores China’s involvement in regions that may be considered global ‘hot spots’ – the South China Sea, Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and West Asia.
The Yearbook seeks to promote a deeper understanding of contemporary issues affecting China and their impact on India, and will be useful for researchers, scholars and policy makers.
Monday, October 14, 2013
In Search of Lasting Security: An Assessment of Armed Violence in Nepal
Nepal’s turbulent transition from civil war to peace—marred by frequent
political stalemates and the recent failure of the Constituent Assembly to
adopt a new constitution—has raised new questions about the overall secu-
rity situation in the country.
http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/C-Special-reports/SAS-SR20-In-Search-of-Lasting-Security-NAVA.pdf
The MANPADS Threat and International Efforts to Address It Ten Years after Mombasa Matt Schroeder
The morning of November 28th, 2002, began like any other in Kenya’s bustling
port city of Mombasa—home to more than 800,000 people and a popular des-
tination for tourists. For the guests and employees of the beachfront Paradise
Hotel in nearby Kikambala, the morning’s tranquility came to an abrupt end
when a sport utility vehicle laden with explosives crashed through the hotel’s
security gate and careened into the lobby. Seconds later, the car bomb exploded,
reducing parts of the hotel to rubble. The owner of a neighboring hotel described
the scene immediately after the explosion. “I can see bodies of local residents,” he
reported. “The whole hotel is burned totally, both wings, the lobby and every-
thing, it’s all burned” (Sawer, Arkell, and Harris, 2002).
http://blogs-cdn.fas.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/The_MANPADS_Threat.pdf
http://blogs-cdn.fas.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/The_MANPADS_Threat.pdf
The Path Not Taken: Conflict and Identity in Nigeria -Jennifer Giroux, Raymond Gilpin, 2013
https://edit.ethz.ch/fsk/publications/pdfs/WPR_20130910.pdf
Security Sector Transformation in Africa
The eighth edition in DCAF’s Yearly Book series examines theconceptual and operational dimensions of Security Sector Transformation inAfrica. African knowledge and experience has contributed much to theevolution of the security sector reform (SSR) concept while Africa continuesto be the main arena for SSR programmes. Consequently, over the years,DCAF has actively sought to expand its knowledge base, policy researchfocus and operational activities on African security sector reform andgovernance issues. For these reasons it is therefore particularly appropriatethat DCAF focuses on this subject in 2010 – the 10th anniversary of thecreation of the DCAF foundation.
Contents
Preface
Abbreviations
Map of Africa
Part I: Introduction
1 Conceptualising Security Sector Transformation in Africa
Alan Bryden and ’Funmi Olonisakin
Alan Bryden and ’Funmi Olonisakin
Part II: Transformation at the Domestic Level
2 Democratic and War-to-Peace Transitions and Security Sector Transformation in Africa
Robin Luckham and Eboe Hutchful
Robin Luckham and Eboe Hutchful
3 Parliaments and Security Sector Transformation in West Africa
Boubacar N’Diaye
Boubacar N’Diaye
4 Gender and Security Sector Transformation – From Theory to South African Practice
Cheryl Hendricks and Kristin Valasek
Cheryl Hendricks and Kristin Valasek
5 Transformation through Participation: Public Perceptions in Liberia and Sierra Leone
Judy Smith-Höhn
Judy Smith-Höhn
Part III: Transformation beyond the State
6 Operationalising Norms for Security Sector Transformation: The Role of Codes of Conduct
Jean-Jacques Gacond and Okey Uzoechina
Jean-Jacques Gacond and Okey Uzoechina
7 Expert Networks and Security Sector Transformation
Thomas Jaye
Thomas Jaye
8 Security Sector Transformation Beyond the State: The Economic Community of West African States
Ekaette Ikpe
Ekaette Ikpe
9 Conceptualising and Implementing a Transformative African Union Policy on Security Sector Reform
Norman Mlambo
Norman Mlambo
10 The United Nations and Security Sector Transformation in Africa
Adedeji Ebo
Adedeji Ebo
11 Security Sector Transformation in Africa: Challenges Confronting Bilateral Donors
Dylan Hendrickson
Dylan Hendrickson
Part IV: Conclusion
12 Enabling Security Sector Transformation in Africa
Alan Bryden and ’Funmi Olonisakin
Alan Bryden and ’Funmi Olonisakin
List of Contributors
About DCAF
Chapters
- Ch 1 Conceptualising Security Sector Transformation in Africa
- Ch 2 Democratic and War-to-Peace Transitions and Security Sector Transformation in Africa
- Ch 4 Gender and Security Sector Transformation – From Theory to South African Practice
- Ch 7 Expert Networks and Security Sector Transformation
- Ch 12 Enabling Security Sector Transformation in Africa http://www.dcaf.ch/content/download/35830/526877/file/Yearly%20Book.pdf
Back to the Roots: Security Sector Reform and Development
There has now been more than a decade of conceptual work, policy development and operational activity in the field of security sector reform (SSR). To what extent has its original aim to support and facilitate development been met? The different contributions to this volume address this question, offering a range of insights on the theoretical and practical relevance of the security-development nexus in SSR. They examine claims of how and whether SSR effectively contributes to achieving both security and development objectives. In particular, the analyses presented in this volume provide a salutary lesson that development and security communities need to take each other’s concerns into account when planning, implementing and evaluating their activities. The book offers academics, policy-makers and practitioners within the development and security communities relevant lessons, suggestions and practical advice for approaching SSR as an instrument that serves both security and development objectives.
Chapters
- Ch. 1 - Returning to the Development Roots of Security Sector Reform
- Ch. 2 - The Security-Development Discourse and the Role of SSR as a Development Instrument
- Ch. 3 - A Bridge Too Far? The Gender Consequences of Linking Security and Development in SSR Discourse and Practice
- Ch. 4 - Learning from Others’ Mistakes: Towards Participatory, Gender-sensitive SSR
- Ch. 5 - Security Sector Reform, Crime and Regional Development in West Africa
- Ch. 6 - The Failure of Security Sector Reform to Advance Development Objectives in East Timor and the Solomon Islands
- Ch. 7 - Pushing Pieces Around the Chessboard or Changing the Game? DDR, SSR and the Security-Development Nexus
- Ch. 8 - Guerrillas, Gangsters and Contractors: Integrating Former Combatants and Its Impact on SSR and Development in Post-conflict Societies
- Ch. 9 - Security Sector Reform and State-building: Lessons Learned
- Ch. 10 - Opportunities to Support Security and Development: International Organisations’ Evolving SSR Approaches
- Ch. 11 - Lest We Forget? The Centrality of Development Considerations in Internationally Assisted SSR Processes
- Ch. 12 - It Takes Two to Tango: Towards Integrated Development and SSR Assistance http://www.dcaf.ch/content/download/64125/974774/file/YB_2011.pdf
Sunday, October 13, 2013
The Integration of a Gender Perspective in the Sierra Leone Police
The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) began its reform process in 1997. As part of this process, the service developed a number of key policies that seek to promote gender equality and responsiveness. In 2011 the SLP undertook, for the first time, an assessment to measure its achievements to date in integrating gender issues in its reform process, and identify remaining gaps as well as good practices to inform the ongoing restructuring. This self-assessment process was undertaken by the SLP, using DCAF’s Gender Self-Assessment Guide. It was conducted from May to October 2011 by a 10-member working group within SLP, comprising personnel from different departments with varied ranks, expertise and length of service. The SLP working group was supported by an external local consultant, Dr. Aisha Fofana Ibrahim. The assessment focused on the following areas :
1. Performance effectiveness
2. Laws, policies and planning
3. Community relations
4. Accountability and oversight
5. Personnel
6. Institutional culture
The SLP internal self-assessment report has formed the basis of a case study entitled “The Integration of a Gender Perspective in the Sierra Leone Police”, written by Dr. Ibrahim. This case study was commissioned by DCAF with the support and collaboration of the SLP. It is intended to be of use to stakeholders such as security sector institutions and oversight bodies, including parliament and civil society organisations, security sector reform practitioners and police services in other countries. It seeks to illustrate how gender perspectives have been integrated into the SLP, achievements, challenges and recommendations for becoming more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the entire population.
Gender Training for the Security Sector: Lessons identified and practical resources
On 4-6 June 2012, DCAF hosted a three-day workshop on gender training for the security sector in Geneva, Switzerland. The workshop brought together thirty-six gender training experts from around the world to share and discuss good practices and lessons learned in delivering gender training to defence, police and other security audiences.
The topics covered during the workshop were:
- Gender training needs assessment
- Importance of gender – debating different approaches
- Simulation exercises and role plays
- Favourite gender training exercises
- Exchange and analysis of gender training agendas
- Gender training for men
- Gender and diversity training
- Exchange and analysis of case studies
- Gender training exercises to promote attitude change
- Follow-up and evaluating the impact of gender training
The workshop was held as part of DCAF’s ongoing project on Gender and Security Sector Reform Capacity Building. The report provides an invaluable resource to anyone involved in training in the field of gender and security as it includes numerous lessons identified as well as useful tips and pointers on how to overcome some of the greatest challenges that gender trainers currently face. Furthermore, the report contains a sizeable collection of tried-and-tested gender training exercises as well as an extensive list of additional resources such as publications, short videos and other electronic training materials.
A Women’s Guide to Security Sector Reform
A Women’s Guide to Security Sector Reform seeks to encourage and empower women to take part in shaping and transforming the security sector in their communities and countries. Even if they have not formally studied security, women often have essential knowledge of community security needs, and have an important contribution to make to security sector reform (SSR).
The Women’s Guide provides both information on the security sector and tools for action. It draws on the rich and varied experiences of women in civil society from across the world and shares examples of practical, and sometimes innovative, ways to influence reform from the grassroots.
The Women’s Guide to Security Sector Reform includes three sections:
- Section 1: Understanding Security
Introduces key concepts in security, explaining SSR, and discusses why women’s contributions in civil society are vital to transforming the security sector. - Section 2: Get Involved
Outlines concrete ways in which women’s organisations can engage and influence reform: how to research security issues, form coalitions, plan strategically, develop recommendations, advocate and engage directly. - Section 3: Tools for Action
Presents an array of practical activities and tools for women’s organisations to take action, including activities to identify local security needs, sample letters to security officials, talking points for meetings with policymakers and media and definitions of security jargon.http://www.dcaf.ch/content/download/118408/1830053/file/AWomensGuidetoSSR_final.pdf
NATO Missile Defence: Political and Budgetary Implications
In the framework of its cooperation with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and funded by the Swiss Ministry of Defence as a contribution to the Partnership for Peace programme, the Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) facilitated an annual joint European Parliament – NATO Parliamentary Assembly conference.
In what follows, the reader will find presentations and minutes of the Tuesday November 6, 2012 Joint Meeting between the European Parliament Delegation for Relations with the NATO Parliamentary Assembly and the NPA on the Political and Budgetary Implications of NATO Missile Defence. The Joint Meeting took place at the European Parliament in Brussels.
Almanac on Security Sector Governance in Ukraine 2012
http://www.dcaf.ch/content/download/125885/1947630/file/Alman_bezp_2012_eng.pdf
Palestinian Draft Law on Access to Information: Bringing access to information legislation in line with international civil-democratic standards -Editor(s): Riham Abu Aita, Bilal Al-Barghouthi, Professor Bertil Cottier, Roland Friedrich, Fatima Itawi, Regula Kaufmann, Arnold Luethold, Nicolas Masson, Ala Matarea, Moussa Rimawi, Fadi Touma, Moussa Rimawi, Mohamed Abu Arqoub, Majed Arouri, Bilal Al-Barghouthi, Ahmed Hammad DCAF 2013
Many Palestinian citizens and journalists consider that the current laws applicable in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip do not provide sufficient guarantees for the freedom of press, expression and opinion. One of the main problems in this regard is the absence of a Palestinian access to information law. During the months of November and December 2012, a committee of four Palestinian legal experts revised and amended the existing PalestinianDraft Law on the Right to Access Information (2005). The committee was established by the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA). It benefited from DCAF’s financial and conceptual support.
This publication builds upon the findings of a previous DCAF-MADA Working Paper (2012). It presents the amended Palestinian Law on the Right to Access Information and its main components. It has been used by Palestinian media rights and civil society representatives to raise decision-makers’ awareness of the importance of enacting access to information legislation in the Palestinian territories.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation and Central Asia’s Security Challenges, Anatoliy A. Rozanov, DCAF 2013
This study outlines the creation and evolution of the SCO, the main aspects of its activity, the ways in which China, Russia, Kazakhstan and other Central Asian countries approach the Organisation, and its role in providing regional security. The contributors attempted to clarify whether the SCO may become a key, effective pillar for the stable and safe evolution of Central Eurasia, as well as its real capacity to fundamentally reform the problem of security and stability in this region.
The study is based on analysis of official SCO documents, original Russian and Chinese sources, as well as assessments of experts from Central Asia.
Migration and Security in the Eastern Mediterranean, Amir Heinitz, DCAF 2013
This paper provides an overview of the nexus of migration and security with a focus on the EU’s migration policy and its effects on migrant security and migration flows in the Eastern Mediterranean from the mid-2000s to the Arab Spring and its aftermath.
Initial recipient countries of migrants of the Eastern Mediterranean take in migrants for internal or external political reasons. Migrants are generally afforded little means by the state to integrate and are often discriminated against by society. The legal administration of migrants in the region is often delegated to international organisations, such as UNHCR and IOM, and social services (health care, education, legal assistance, nutritional assistance etc.) are provided by CSOs and migrant networks often with limited resources and vulnerable to conflict. Smugglers and migrant networks provide exit routes to Europe or other destinations for desperate, ambitious or more mobile migrants.
This paper suggests that the EU’s assistance to transit countries in strengthening their border systems should be supplemented by actively engaging transit countries on a policy, legal and financial level. Local integration should be supported in close cooperation between the EU, transit country authorities, UNHCR, IOM and CSOs, and matched by an increase in controlled immigration to the EU from transit countries according to vulnerability categories and skilled labour needs. Civil perception and categorisation of migrants as either dangerous (irregular immigrant) or vulnerable (refugee), should be complemented by an appreciation of migrants as political and economic actors, culminating in the engagement of migrants on an equal footing.
Given protracted conflicts in countries of emigration, the paper concludes that a lack of proactive EU foreign migration policy towards transit countries bordering the Mediterranean, results in an overly intensive securitisation of the EU’s external borders as a tool to repel economic migrants and refugees.
The Indonesian Draft State Secrecy Law, Philipp Fluri, DCAF 2010
Authoritarian regimes do not only like to foster nationalist thought – thus creating questions to which they are supposedly the answer – they also are characterized by a ‘culture’ of secrecy which ordinarily surpasses by far the exigencies of defence and is in clear violation of the tenets of accountability and transparency adhered to by democratic, open societies.
In this publication we asked leading international experts to look at secrecy legislation and regulations in comparative perspective. As most emerging democracies will go through similar birth pains we hope to give indications as to what is secrecy, who may declare information or objects secret, and under what circumstances.
Parliamentary Powers in Security Sector Governance, Teodora Fuior DCAF 2011
This publication contains two sections: First, an introductory text on parliamentary oversight with the aim to help parliamentarians and non-parliamentarians alike to understand what the powers of an ambitious, competent and well-prepared parliament and its committees can be and what good they can do. Secondly, the publication contains a ‘self-assessment’ kit that helps parliamentary and non-parliamentary security and governance experts understand where their parliament stands and what further improvements could be made in the light of ‘best practices’.
Settling In For The Long Haul: Stability With Chinese Characteristics
Alan D. Romberg's latest essay, "Settling in for the Long Haul: Stability with Chinese Characteristics", has been published in the current issue of China Leadership Monitor.
The political turmoil created in Taiwan by the Kuomintang's (KMT) move to oust Legislative Yuan (LY) speaker Wang Jin-pyng in mid-September capped off several months of tumult over such issues as the abuse-related heatstroke death of a military recruit, the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant, and the recently signed cross-Strait services trade agreement (STA). While the extent of the fallout from the Wang episode is yet to be determined, this latest turn of the political wheel has cast into some doubt the shape of politics in Taiwan going forward and the fate of pending sensitive legislative issues.
Market Power: Adapting Public And Private Roles For Transnational Commerce And Transnational Threats
There is urgent need for a "new normal" in public-private relationships on security issues. This report aims to kick-start a new dialogue on making that a reality.
Nate Olson and Brian Finlay of Stimson's Managing Across Boundaries Initiative describe why illicit trafficking threats demand enhanced public-private coordination that benefits both industry and government.
Understanding industry's value drivers is one of the keys to sustainable public-private coordination.
Governments never will act at the speed of 21st-century innovation and commerce. Achieving genuine security amid a range of complex transnational threats therefore will require new partners and new models for engaging those partners. Better leveraging the private sector's capabilities and expertise will be essential. Drawing on more than a year's worth of confidential discussions with industry -- including dual-use technology manufacturers, radiopharmaceutical companies, supply chain and logistics firms, and insurance providers -- Olson and Finlay outline the first crucial steps the US government must take to that end:
- enhancing knowledge of industry's economic and political landscape;
- understanding the full range of industry's value drivers; and
- diversifying government's "portfolio" of interagency and public-private coordination tools.
The report suggests several areas where there is near-term potential for concrete action. In the months ahead, the Managing Across Boundaries Initiative will highlight further opportunities for action through the work of the Partners in Prevention Task Force and related outreach.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
Tuesday, September 3, 2013
Monday, September 2, 2013
Monday, August 19, 2013
The China Factor in U.S.-Vietnam Relations James Bellacqua
Bilateral relations between the United States and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam have evolved rapidly since ties were normalized in 1995. One factor drawing the two countries together is the complex relationship both have with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). This paper examines the China factor in the relationship between the United States and Vietnam, and assesses the extent to which shared concerns over China encourage and limit cooperation between the two countries.
http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/The%20China%20Factor%20in%20US%20Vietnam%20Relations%20DRM-2012-U-000184-FINAL.pdfSunday, August 18, 2013
China’s Leadership Transition: What’s at Stake? Conference Report Dr. Alison A. Kaufman
On September 12, 2012, CNA China Studies held a conference to examine the implications of the leadership transition that was about to take place at the 18th Party Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. This report discusses five key themes that emerged in the conference.
http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/CCP-2012-U-002957-Final.pdf
North Korean Calculus in the Maritime Environment Covert Versus Overt Provocations Ken E. Gause
This paper examines the calculus behind North Korea’s decisions to conduct provocations and its capability to carry them out. The paper explores how the North Korean regime balances the risks of escalation with potential benefits to be gained by provocation. It also considers the impact of South Korea’s “Proactive Deterrence Strategy” on Pyongyang’s risk calculus. Finally, it examines the events of March–April 2013 for indications of change in how North Korea views the issue of escalation and whether it has changed its risk calculus in the Kim Jong-un era. -
http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/COP-2013-U-005210-Final.pdf
http://www.cna.org/sites/default/files/research/COP-2013-U-005210-Final.pdf
Sunday, July 28, 2013
South Korean-Chinese Summit: A Dose of Reality
JUL 22, 2013
The recently completed visit of South Korean President Park Geun-hye to China, and the red carpet treatment she received there, is widely perceived as a seminal event which could ultimately reshape diplomatic relations throughout East Asia.
Not all quarters, however, hailed the results of the precedent setting visit. There was a dark mood apparent in both Tokyo and Pyongyang, although for decidedly different reasons.
Chinese Military Modernization and Force Development
A Western Perspective
JUL 25, 2013
China military development has become a key focus of US security policy as well as that of virtually all Asian-Pacific states. The Burke Chair is issuing a new report on the trends in Chinese strategy, military spending, and military forces based on Chinese defense white papers and other official Chinese sources; US reporting by the Department of Defense and other defense agencies; and other government sources, including Japanese and Korean defense white papers and the International Monetary Fund. The analysis also draws on the work of experts outside of government, various research centers, and NGOs.
The goal is to provide a comparison of different views and sources, contrasting Chinese and outside views and highlighting the trends where adequate data are available as well as the problems, gaps, and contradictions in various sources. It is not intended to provide a particular view of Chinese developments or policy recommendations, but rather to act as a reference that can be used in US and Chinese military dialogue and by other experts looking for a comparison of official sources and the trends in Chinese forces.
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