About this SSR Backgrounder

This SSR Backgrounder is about applying the principles of good security sector governance (SSG) to defence through defence reform. The military is concerned with the defence of a state and its people. By increasing democratic oversight and control, defence reform ensures that military power is used according to the will and in defence of the population. Defence reform enables the military to fulfil its mandate more efficiently and effectively, in order to function flexibly in a dynamic security environment.

This SSR Backgrounder answers the following questions:

• What is defence reform?
• Why reform defence?
• Who carries out defence reform?
• How does a defence reform process work?
• What links defence reform to good SSG and SSR?
• How to overcome barriers to defence reform?