Abstract
This chapter builds on previous findings in democratic transition literature on the link between democratic consolidation and security sector reform (SSR). Reform must include ending the impunity for crimes perpetrated by security agents and ensuring effective and meaningful democratic control of the military, police and intelligence establishments. The focus on the (yet unsuccessful) quest by Arab pro-change forces (both reformists and revolutionaries) to democratically control the security sector in the aftermath of the Arab Spring. Even the relative success story of Tunisia is still lagging, compared to the achievements of other SSR transitional processes outside the region. The chapter assesses several Arab SSR reform initiatives between 2011 and 2013, in comparisons with other SSR processes in Latin America, South Europe Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Five variables that determine the trajectory of SSR processes are analysed: levels of political polarization, levels of internal resistance within the security sector, levels of knowledge and capacities of reformists, levels of support of regional/international actors, and the status of demobilization, disarmament, de-radicalization and reintegration (DDDR). Palestine, a case reviewed in depth here, is a unique case, since it is not really an independent state, and its security apparatus has to deal with the highly securized Israeli state.
Published Version
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