A Case Study in Security Sector Reform: Learning from Security Sector Reform/Building in Afghanistan (October 2002-September 2003)

Abstract

Security sector reform (SSR) is that set of policies, plans, programs, and activities that a government undertakes to improve the way it provides safety, security, and justice. This is a complex and involved task against which Captain Howk evaluates the early international effort to rebuild effective governance in Afghanistan. The purpose of this case study is to document the lessons learned through the development and execution of the SSR program in Afghanistan, with special emphasis from 2002 through 2003. The author has a unique and enviable position from which to observe the inner workings of the highest level commands in Afghanistan first as an Aide de Camp to then Major General Karl Eikenberry during his first tour in Afghanistan and as the current Aide de Camp to General Stanley McChrystal. This paper is not only a case study, but in effect is a primer on SSR. It critically evaluates the underlying theories of SSR and discusses how SSR should work in an operational environment. The paper concludes by reexamining the development of the strategy and implementation of the SSR effort in Afghanistan. By 2002 it was clear that SSR was an important focus, and it was recognized to be essential for the successful development of economic and governance institutions in Afghanistan. The paper uses the four major elements of the security sector as outlined by D. Hendrickson and A. Karkoszka to focus on seven key objectives. To narrow the scope of the paper, the author details the role of four typical actors involved in SSR: donor nations; recipient state of Afghanistan; multilateral participants such as the United Nations (UN), SSR experts, and nongovernmental organizations; and regional security cooperation entities such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The paper provides an insiders view of the preparation accomplished by the leadership team prior to entering Afghanistan, and then it provides a critical assessment

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2009
Accession Number
ADA508795

Entities

People

  • Jason C. Howk

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Materials and Manufacturing Processes

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Case Studies
  • Department Of Defense
  • Department Of State
  • Information Exchange
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Lessons Learned
  • Military Personnel
  • National Governments
  • National Security
  • Nato
  • Nongovernmental Organizations
  • Personnel Management
  • United States Central Command
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military History of the United States in the 20th Century.
  • Military and Counterinsurgency Studies.