Videos
Lessons from Iraq: Building an Inclusive Armed Forces and Engaging Informal Actors
Interview with Walter Slocombe, Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad (2003). Mr Slocombe is also a former US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Podcasts
Lessons from Iraq: Building an Inclusive Armed Forces
Interview with Walter Slocombe, Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad (2003). Mr Slocombe is also a former US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy.
Lessons from Iraq: Building an Inclusive Armed Forces and Engaging Informal Actors
Interview with Walter Slocombe, Senior Advisor for Security and Defence to the Coalition Provisional Authority in Baghdad (2003).
Policy and Research Papers
Fixing Iraq's Internal Security Forces: Why is reform of the Ministry of Interior so hard?
This paper examines the charge laid out in the US Marine Corps General Jim Jones report, explains why institution building and reform at the MOI have proved so difficult, and notes flaws in the international capacity building effort that need to be addressed. The central argument is that Iraq’s political dynamics, combined with the unprecedented burdens being placed upon the MOI, will continue to make institutional development and reform terribly difficult. However, assessments such as the Jones report ignore the fact that the ministry is more functional than it may at first appear. Furthermore, there are signs of incipient, MOI-led reforms; these provide hopeful pointers. In order to take advantage of these incipient reforms, the international assistance effort needs to significantly raise its game. If this can be achieved, then, gradually and painfully, the ministry could become a more positive force in Iraqi society. However, even if technical institutional reforms are successful, it will be important to understand that the ministry will reflect Iraq’s political make-up; it cannot stand above national politics.
Security Sector Evolution: Understanding and influencing how security institutions change
The aim of this paper is to make a contribution to the under-theorised field of Security Sector Reform (SSR) studies (Egnell and Halden, 2009) and to support better design, implementation and review of SSR programmes. We borrow, from economics and strategic management, some perspectives on institutional change and we consider the implications of these insights for approaches to SSR.
L'Irak après l'État islamique : une victoire qui change tout ?
L'article discute l’ensemble des problématiques politiques, sociales et sécuritaires qui conditionnent l’avenir de l’État irakien après la libération de Mossoul. Il pose la question à savoir si la victoire sur les djihadistes suffira à pacifier l’Irak et à insuffler à son régime politique largement dysfonctionnel une nouvelle dynamique.
Consolidating the Security Sector in Post-Conflict States: Polish Lessons from Iraq
This chapter examines the security sector reform in Iraq after the end of major combat operations in April 2003. The author discusses the Polish contribution to stabilization and reconstruction as member of the US-led 'coalition of the willing.' He draws the conclusion that an augmentation of NATO capabilities in post-conflict reconstruction, particularly security sector reform, would enable it to better face the challenges of the strategic environment in Iraq.