Michael Brzoska Book order

In recent years, partnerships between diverse types of actors have had some success in addressing urgent problems. The chapters in this volume address the opportunities and problems of partnerships between local, national and international actors from the public and private sectors in a particularly difficult field, namely the improvement of physical security in conflict and post-conflict situations. Based on a security governance perspective, thematic case studies explore conditions for the success and failure of multi-stakeholder partnerships in security sector reform, demobilization, disarmament and reintegration of combatants, small arms control and community-based security. The practical implementations of multi-stakeholder partnerships are analyzed in three in-depth case studies. The partial demobilization of the former Kosovo Protection Corps, local security-building efforts in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo and the disbandment of illegal armed groups in Afghanistan show that multi-stakeholder partnerships can be effective in addressing problems. Their main pitfalls are the asymmetric relations between the various partners. These can easily lead to differing perceptions on the roles of partners, as well as the objectives of cooperation.

The nature of armed conflict has changed in recent decades. This presents new challenges for the prevention of violence, the promotion of disarmament and the securing of durable peace. The essays in this book address important aspects related to these challenges, with references to the work of prominent German peace researcher Herbert Wulf. Topics covered include demilitarization, small arms control, security sector reform, post-conflict construction, peace-building in failed states and, as guiding theme, the limits and possibilities of security governance.