Publication

This paper analyzes how security sector reforms (SSRs) can contribute to statebuilding. It is argued that successful statebuilding requires an endogenous political process which aims at creating political legitimacy instead of certain ideal type Western state structures. In a conflict-torn society this demands security for citizens allowing them to express their opinion freely and participate in a state-building process. The example of the Afghan police reform illustrates that a state-centric SSR is in danger of delegitimizing and destabilizing the state. In contrast, a human-centric security approach is more likely to support an endogenous process of building legitimate institutions.