National Security Policies and Strategies: A Note on Current Practice
December 01, 2009
A national security policy (NSP) is a government-wide analysis and description of the strategic level concerns a country faces; it addresses how the government plans to deals with these concerns. A national security strategy (NSS) is a government's overarching plan for ensuring the country's security in the form of guidance for implementing a country's national security policy. In several contexts, an initial national security strategy may play an important role in determining a comprehensive strategy for security sector reform. The NSS can be a tool for building legitimacy of security actors in the eyes of a population. This practice note discusses the challenges to reforming national security structures, as they relate to drafting appropriate national security strategies, and provides examples of ongoing efforts in Afghanistan, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
This relates to…
December 01, 2009
Management of the Security Sector: A Note on Current Practice
Management of the security sector is the implementation, direction, and operation of security policies, decisions, and practices. Management requires horizontal and vertical
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December 01, 2009
Security Sector Governance and Oversight: A Note on Current Practice
Although definitions for security sector governance vary, reform centers around two dimensions that enable effective oversight and accountability of the security and justice sector: 1)
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December 01, 2009
Security Sector Reform Best Practices and Lessons Learned
Security sector reform (SSR) aims to support the development of "effective, inclusive and accountable security institutions so as to contribute to international peace and security,
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December 01, 2009
Threat Assessments and Reviews: A Note on Current Practice
Threat assessments compile and analyze current and prospective challenges to a country's security and interests, and may be conducted as part of wider reviews of national security and
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December 01, 2009
SSR in Stabilization Environments: A Note on Current Practice
This practice note focuses on planning and implementing SSR activities in stabilization environments. Stabilization environments are characterized by circumstances related to descent
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December 01, 2009
Defense Sector Reform: A Note on Current Practice
In countries recovering from conflict, defence institutions may be particularly resistant to change, often because change would entail loss of political control or decreased access to
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June 04, 2009
Security Sector Reform: Current Challenges and US Policy
On June 4, 2009, the Future of Peace Operations (FOPO) Program at the Stimson Center hosted an expert workshop on security sector reform (SSR). The workshop showcased Stimson's
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