Prioritizing Security Sector Reform
A New U.S. Approach
Edited by Querine Hanlon and Richard H. Shultz, Jr.
March 2016
Prioritizing Security Sector Reform: A New U.S. Approach argues that security sector reform should be at the core of a new U.S. policy to strengthen the security sector capacity of countries where U.S. interests are at stake. This volume offers case studies to exemplify the context in which a new U.S. approach might be warranted, discusses other countries’ experiences with security sector reform policies, and examines how the United States should design and implement a security sector reform policy.
Querine Hanlon and Richard Schultz’s new book Prioritizing Security Sector Reform not only deftly reaffirms the critical importance of security sector reform to stabilize fragile and conflict-affected states, but also outlines a cogent and comprehensive policy framework to reinvent U.S. security sector assistance. This book is a welcome addition to the existing literature on SSR and should become required reading for U.S. government officials engaged in any facet of overseas security assistance.
Dr. Mark Sedra, Executive Director, Centre for Security Governance
Prioritizing Security Sector Reform drives home why security sector reform is a complex and central policy problem. It is crucial to both combating violent extremism and to enlarging just governance. This volume offers a variety of insights from British and Canadian techniques and the most significant contemporary cases of Libya, Tunisia, and Mexico, as well as offering a crisp, unified vision for U.S. policy approaches and tools. Its recommendations will be useful to policymakers and thought-provoking to academic students and analystsMark P. Lagon, PhD, President, Freedom House
Given today’s global volatilities, America’s interest in helping our allies and partners build their security force capacity will likely get stronger in the years ahead. Recent history shows how challenging it can be to generate foreign military and police forces that are operationally proficient, sustainable, professional and well-governed, and hence viewed as guardians of peace and security by their fellow citizens. Querine Hanlon and Richard Schultz have developed a book that provides much-needed conversation on security sector reform.
James A. Schear, former Deputy Assistant Secretary for Partnership Strategy at DOD