Panel

Panel Abstract for EUROSEAS 2010

“Perspectives of Security Sector Reform in Southeast Asia”
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It is obvious that the military and other security actors continue to play an important role in many Southeast Asian countries. Not only by defending the external borders of their respective states, but more so through their involvement in domestic affairs, i.e. through defending certain regimes against internal insurgencies, their influence on political affairs and sometimes even (both legally and illegally) through their business involvement. Recent incidents such as the military-led coup d’etat in Thailand, the revolt of ex-militaries in East Timor, the human rights violations and extrajudicial killings allegedly committed by security forces in the Philippines, and attacks on opposition-led demonstrations in Myanmar have all highlighted the poor status quo of Security Sector Reform (SSR) in many Southeast Asian countries.

With regard to the prominent position the security forces still occupy in different countries, it seems incumbent that they are managed by democratic principles, serve under the control of democratic institutions, and perform their functions in line with democratic norms and respect for human rights. SSR as a concept, that aims to transform the security architecture and its oversight institutions in post-conflict and transition states, is therefore increasingly regarded as a potential cornerstone of the reform agendas in Southeast Asian countries ranging from Thailand to East Timor. Donors have highlighted the importance of SSR for Southeast Asia time and again, yet there seems to be little ownership in Southeast Asia. In fact, and for reasons to be discussed on the panel, security agents have largely rejected reform attempts. Even in countries like Indonesia, that have shown remarkable success in reforming their own security sectors, the security forces have managed to preserve many of their authoritarian prerogatives. In this light, the panel tries to raise the question of “how to make sense of SSR in Southeast Asia?” In accordance with the broad range of issues connected to SSR, not only papers that deal with its policy aspects are welcome, but also contributions that focus on the evolution of the concept, SSR’s normative presumptions, and questions of adaptability to the Southeast Asian context.

Accepted papers:

Aries Ayuson Arugay (University of the Philippines, Manila):
"Spheres of Military Autonomy under Democratic Rule and Security Sector Reform: The Philippines in Comparative Perspective"

Deniz Kocak (Humboldt University, Berlin):
"Continuity or Deviance of Beaten Paths? Security Sector Reform in Thailand"

David Jansen (Australian National University, Canberra):
"Policing and Internal Security Management in Indonesia"

Joerg Krempel (Peace Research Institute, Frankfurt):
"The Diffusion of SSR Norms in Timor-Leste: The Problem of Missing Functionality and Implementation"

Paul Chambers (Heidelberg University, Heidelberg):
"Security Sector Governance and Civil-Military Relations in the Philippines Today"

Wilfried A. Herrmann (Human Development Forum Foundation, Bangkok):
"SSR in Southeast Asia – Dreams and Reality: Practical Experiences of SSR Implementation in Thailand and Cambodia"
 

Interested contributors are encouraged to email a short abstract of their paper to:

Felix Heiduk, Dr.
German Institute for International and Security Affairs
Ludwigkirchplatz 3-4
10719 Berlin
Germany
E-mail: Felix.heiduk@swp-berlin.org