the process of security sector reform - ISAC Fund

István Gyarmati MILITARY REFORMS OF THE 1990s: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES
István Gyarmati MILITARY REFORMS OF THE 1990s: LESSONS LEARNED FROM THE SUCCESSES AND FAILURES
• The military must become transparent to the public, including the
planning and the use of its budget;
• The rule of law must apply to the military as well; and
• The military should be open to international cooperation, especially with
neighboring countries.
In order to ensure that these basic principles, which are to guide the use and
functioning of the military, are observed, they must be embodied in legislation and
institutional structures. The executive branch must lead the efforts to introduce
legislation ensuring that these principles are enshrined in the Constitution and
the laws of the country, and that the necessary institutions of the Parliament and
the Government, such as Parliamentary oversight committee(s) and the interagency
coordination body(ies) are created and adequately staffed by a mix of
civilian and military personnel.
The most important legislation includes:
• the relevant parts of the Constitution and
• laws on national defense and the status of military personnel, including
professionals and conscripts,
Institutions needed include:
• Parliamentary oversight committees for defence, intelligence, foreign
affairs, etc.
• Relevant institutions of the executive branch ensuring the smooth
integration of the military in the Government
• Structures within the military to manage cooperation of the military with
Parliamentary committees and other non-military structures.
DETERMINE THE ROLES OF THE MILITARY IN THE CONTEXT
OF AN OVERALL NATIONAL SECURITY STRATEGY
The starting point in thinking about reform of the military itself must be the
determination of the role the military will be expected to play in the security
equation of any given country. These roles can only be determined on the basis
of a realistic threat assessment, which in turn, must be based on the evaluation
of the security situation of the country, the region and the trans-Atlantic region,
kin the case of a European country.
The conclusion is that any reform process must start with the elaboration of a
National Security Strategy (or Policy) for the country. The National Security
Strategy, in simple terms, determines the security situation of the country, against
the background of the security situation in the immediate neighborhood and
broader region where the country is situated. In elaborating such a strategy, the
notion of security must be based on a modern understanding of security, which is
comprehensive, cooperative, coherent, common, collective and/or indivisible.
Comprehensive Security
Comprehensive security means that all aspects of security must be taken into
account. Military strategy, which used to determine the security of a country
over many centuries, remains an important, but not the only, nor even the most
important part of security. Political security, economic security, the situation of
human and minority rights and the environment are important factors, which
must be taken into account when determining the security situation of any given
country. The security policy of the country should be coherent, too. Coherent
means that elements of security policy must strengthen each other, or at least,
must not contradict and weaken each other.
Cooperative Security
Cooperative security means that the security of any given country can much more
effectively be achieved − perhaps can only be achieved − through cooperation.
Confrontation can only lead to further tensions and will not produce lasting
results. Cooperation, on the other hand, creates the basis of mutual understanding
and, thus, reduces the need for other guarantees of security, including military
ones.
Common Security vs. Collective Security
The notions of common and collective security are often confused. Common
security, as embedded in the Charter of the Untied Nations, brings countries together
in a common understanding and practice of security. Self-defense is every
country’s right, but can only be exercised within certain, self-imposed limits and
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