Description
State security institutions such as the police, the judiciary, and even the military are some of the most important areas of state activity. They are responsible for the establishment of security and safety in a country, maintaining public order, enforcing the law, and prosecuting crimes. In fragile environments such as post-conflict or semi-authoritarian states, the reform of the security sector is a major endeavour, and often part of larger peacebuilding or democratisation efforts of the government as well as international donors. Yet, particularly in post-war environments, state security institutions are often not trusted and even feared by the population. This paper critically engages with the role of international organisations in trust-building endeavours. Previous research suggests that international peacebuilding missions can play an important role in building trust in post-war environments. Yet empirical evidence from recent cases such as Afghanistan and the Sahel show that this is often not the case. The paper critically examines previous peacebuilding missions with a focus on trust-building, and discusses pathways for future trust-building under challenging conditions, as well as the role of third parties in trust-building initiatives.
