Due to global patterns of migration, economic interaction and political interdependence as well as the emergence of new technologies, communication systems and modes of transportation, civil wars have shifted from being a domestic issue to becoming a concern for neighbouring states and the international community. When local institutions and government structures have not been able to prevent the escalation of conflicts, external actors have intervened to restore law and order and to stabilise the situation. The international community has pursued an increasingly interventionist agenda with the legitimation of intervention by external actors with a view to developing and strengthening local governance. The recognition of the importance of this global-local interplay has been accompanied by a greater awareness of the interdependence and interconnectedness of international, regional and national security. Globalising forces and the existence of glocal governance processes mean that external interventions have become governance bridges with multifaceted implications at both the international and local levels.
A unique implication of this state of affair is the increasing interest paid by states and international organisations in weak and failing states. Indeed, our globalised condition means that the international community has been led to intervene in areas where governance was such that it posed a threat to international peace and security. There has been an increasing interest in restoring governance and fostering ‘good governance’ or ‘good enough governance’. Interventions have taken place at the political and economic levels through the World Bank and IMF but in a large number of cases, interventions have focused on security and the reform of the security sector as means to achieve good governance and to deal with threats to peace and security.
In this context, a number of scholars have turned their attention to the interplay between governance and security and security governance’ as a new area of concern. The term governance has been the subject of numerous critiques for being unclear and analytically useless. Likewise, the term security is essentially contested. As a result, the concept of security governance is still lacking a clear and consensual definition and remains a matter of debate. Based on an analysis of the concepts of governance and security, this book explores and defines what is commonly called security governance.
Table of Contents
Part 1 - On Governance
Introduction
The emergence of Governance as a concept
Government and (Global) Governance
Governance by, with and without Government
The State and Shadows of Hierarchy
Shadows of Hierarchy beyond the State
Governance and Governmentality
Conclusion
Part 2 - On Security Governance
Introduction
Defining Security
Defining the Security Sector
Matrix of Security Governance Approaches
World Bank and Good Governance of the Security Sector
Security Governance and Public Policy
Security Governance from a Global Governance Perspective
Security Governance and the EU as a security governance actor
Criminology and the Nodal Governance of Security
Security governance according to Huysmans
Peacebuilding and State-building as Security Governance
Conclusion
Part 3 - On Security Sector Reform
Introduction
History of SSR and Main Approaches
SSR and Governance
SSR and Local Ownership
Involving Non-State Actors in SSR
Coordination and the Holistic Nature of SSR
Objectives and Core Themes
This work aims to provide a conceptual clarification of "governance" and "security governance" by navigating the diverse, often contradictory, theoretical traditions across international relations, public administration, and development studies. It explores how these concepts inform Security Sector Reform (SSR) and examines the shift from state-centric models toward multi-actor, multi-level governance structures in global politics.
- The conceptual evolution of governance and governmentality.
- Definitions and theoretical approaches to security and the security sector.
- The interplay between external interveners and recipient societies in security governance.
- The critical analysis of SSR, including challenges of local ownership and the inclusion of non-state actors.
Excerpt from the Book
Defining Security
Until the end of the Cold War, it was generally agreed that security referred to the absence of military threats posed by states to other states. Security was the result of a power relation defined in material terms which focused on territorial integrity, state sovereignty and state monopoly over the mean of violence. The perennial survival of the state was an absolute good and protection from external threats was crucial.
Following the end of the Cold War, the debate over security intensified to further develop a concept which had up-until then remained under-researched and under-theorised (Moller 2009: 20). The concept was deepened, broadened and humanised and critical approaches to security emerged (Stern & Öjendal 2010; Hänggi 2005; 2003). In a first step, the types of threats studied were extended from purely military ones to include other sectors such as health, culture, the economy, food or society (Buzan 1991; UNDP 1994; Sheehan 2005). In a second step, the ‘referent object’, that is, the entity whose security may be challenged, shifted from the state to include other referent points such as stateless nations, cultural groups and communities. The identity of non-state groups became of interest and ‘societal security’ or ‘community security’ came to complement traditional ‘state security’ (Buzan et al. 1998; Waever et al. 1993; UNDP 1994).
Thirdly, the referent object moved from human communities (the state or the group) to humans themselves. The security of women and men as well as their survival became the ultimate value to be protected from threats and accordingly the type of threats was broadened from military ones to include all threats which could harm or challenge the survival of human individuals (diseases, poverty, pollution, scarcity, famine, etc.).
Summary of Chapters
Part 1 - On Governance: This section maps the emergence of the governance concept, moving from state-centric government to broader processes involving private and civil society actors, and introduces the "shadow of hierarchy" and governmentality as lenses for understanding contemporary steering mechanisms.
Part 2 - On Security Governance: This part applies governance theory to the security domain, critically analyzing how scholars and institutions (like the World Bank) define the security sector and attempt to govern security through various approaches, ranging from traditional state-centric views to broader, human-centred perspectives.
Part 3 - On Security Sector Reform: This final section examines SSR as a policy-driven application of governance in post-conflict states, highlighting the tensions between donor-imposed agendas and the need for local ownership and the integration of non-state security providers.
Keywords
Governance, Security Governance, Security Sector Reform, SSR, Governmentality, Global Governance, Human Security, State-building, Peacebuilding, Local Ownership, Non-state Actors, Shadow of Hierarchy, Security-development Nexus, Nodal Governance, Accountability.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this book?
The book explores the concept of "governance" and its application to the security sector, analyzing the shift in how international actors and scholars approach security management in contemporary, complex global settings.
What are the primary thematic fields covered?
The main themes include political theory of governance, the evolving definitions of security (including human security), Security Sector Reform (SSR), and the practical challenges of state-building in post-conflict environments.
What is the primary research goal?
The work aims to clarify the conceptual ambiguity surrounding "security governance" and to evaluate how different disciplinary perspectives (IR, public policy, criminology) frame the interaction between formal and informal security actors.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The authors employ a comprehensive literature review and comparative analysis, synthesizing various definitions and critiques from academic and policy-oriented documentation to build a structured framework for security governance.
What topics does the main body address?
The text addresses the historical emergence of governance, critiques of the state-centric model, the "shadow of hierarchy," the definition of the security sector, and the implementation of SSR initiatives through local ownership and multi-layered approaches.
What defines the core concepts discussed?
The core concepts are characterized by their multi-dimensional nature, involving a transition from hierarchical, state-led control to complex, interconnected networks of authority and legitimacy.
How does the book treat the "shadow of hierarchy"?
The authors discuss this as the lingering, often necessary, presence of state authority that provides a condition for the effectiveness of informal or network-based governance structures.
What is the role of "non-state actors" in the security sector?
The book argues that non-state actors (e.g., NGOs, private security, customary justice providers) are often the primary security providers in fragile or post-conflict states, though they are frequently marginalized in traditional SSR designs.
- Citation du texte
- Ludwig Gelot (Auteur), Hanna Leonardsson (Auteur), 2014, On Security Governance, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/278068
