Micro-negotiation in the Security Sector Advising Context: A Case Study from Afghanistan

Abstract

The field of security sector reform and advising provides a rich context for examining the conduct of negotiations. In this chapter, the author uses his experience as a security sector advisor in Afghanistan in 2011 and 2012 as a case study to explore improved strategies for negotiations while analyzing the interpersonal and intrapersonal dynamics of these interactions. Through this analysis, and associated recommendations for improving how security sector advisors are trained and how they conduct their work, it may be possible for countries and external stakeholders to achieve improved security sector reform results. Better security sector reform processes, enhanced through improved advising negotiations, can be instrumental to fostering international stability and peace. Security sector advisors often operate with the overarching purpose of building a country’s capacity. Building capacity is normally viewed as a development objective; however, when mixed with the diplomatic and/or defense and law enforcement objectives of security sector advising, a number of contradictions emerge. This chapter identifies a number of best practices for advisors, to include demonstrating empathy and humility, upholding development standards such as doing no harm, and focusing on value set identification to improve negotiation outcomes. The day-to-day realities of the micro-negotiations an advisor will need to conduct are also examined, and this chapter presents ways for these micro-negotiations to advance capacity building in small, measured ways over an advisor’s tenure. The author concludes by examining the importance of training security sector advisors for their work and describing why this training is often incomplete or insufficient. Ultimately, improved security can lead to better protection of their populations from threats and increased chances for economic development to lead to national prosperity.