Algerian state terrorism and atrocities in northern Mali

The Islamist ‘terrorist’ groups that have taken over control of northern Mali are not only the creations of Algeria’s secret police, the Département du Renseignement et de la Sécurité (DRS), but they are being supplied, supported and orchestrated by the DRS.

By Open democracy

/ 25 Sep 2012

America's military: a far-right threat

A lax recruitment policy has allowed neo-Nazi and other extremists to enter the United States army. The violent consequences are increasingly being felt in the domestic arena, says Matt Kennard.

By Matt Kennard

/ 25 Sep 2012

Libya: politics before security?

Last week's attack against the US ambassador is a warning sign that large security gaps are threatening Libya's stability. Democratically electing a new government is no guarantee of better times to come.

By Open democracy

/ 21 Sep 2012

The future of Security Sector Reform in the MENA region

Post 'Spring' Arab countries are characterized by a blurring of responsibilities between military and civilian elites. Security Sector Reform is an urgent necessity, and the international community has a key role to play in facilitating it.

By Open democracy

/ 11 Sep 2012

The United Arab Emirates: frontiers of the Arab Spring

The United Arab Emirates has yet to face Arab Spring street protests, as have Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and its other neighbours. Nonetheless its seven ruling families are now finally being challenged directly by a number of brave citizens, some of whom are publicly calling for regime change.

By Open democracy

/ 8 Sep 2012

Lackland Air Force sexual abuse: glimpse of the ‘real’ scandal of the US military

What can we learn about militarised ideas of gender from the Lackland Air Force scandal? Military inquiries focus on the individual perpetrators but fail to address deep-rooted gendered practices in military basic training.

By Open democracy

/ 5 Sep 2012

Anti-corruption measures in Security Sector Reform: necessary and achievable

SSR cannot be effective unless efforts are made to tackle corruption, but often this issue is felt to be too politically sensitive to address. Approaching corruption as a systemic issue opens the space for defence officials to become engaged.

By Open democracy

/ 22 Aug 2012

Security Sector Reform In Bahrain

While the Bahrain government has implemented many of the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry security sector reform recommendations, abuses have continued throughout 2012, suggesting that attempts at reform have fundamentally failed to alter the government’s approach to dealing with its oppo

By Open democracy

/ 17 Aug 2012

Should one expect security sector reform in Egypt?

In the stand-off between the two main political actors, control over the security sector will be a major issue at stake. Both groups are convinced that they will only be able to maintain their domination over the political scene provided that they enjoy control over the security institutions.

By Open democracy

/ 16 Aug 2012

The UAE: holding back the tide

As a deeply-tribal and largely homogeneous society that has also engaged heavily both in state-branding and institutional partnerships in recent years, the security crackdown in the UAE holds particular resonance, calling into question the judgement of international institutions that bought into t

By Open democracy

/ 5 Aug 2012

What now for the Philippines' Communist insurgency?

The New People's Army has intensified its activities in the past months. Local governments should be able to effectively deal with the insurgency, but improvement rests on politically sensitive developmental issues, and there is an urgent need for Security Sector Reform to end the use of paramilit

By Open democracy

/ 31 Jul 2012

Impunity returns to Peru

Acknowledging that the crimes committed by the Colina Group death squad were part of official state policy, Peru’s Supreme Court has nevertheless described human rights protests that these were ‘crimes against humanity’ as ‘whining’.

By Jo-Marie Burt

/ 31 Jul 2012

Security sector reform - a global challenge