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Key Text Subordination or Cooperation? New Interfaces between Development and Security Policy (with reference to examples from Germany)

Author: S Klingebiel and K Roehder
Date: 2005
Size: 33 pages (169 KB)

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Summary

'No development without security' is proving more and more to be a development policy paradigm, one that calls for new approaches in the field. What are the implications of this trend? This paper argues that convergence between security and development may enhance overall coherence between these previously diverse agendas. However, international donors and in particular, Germany, should redefine the position of development policy in relation to other external policy fields to avoid the risk of overlapping competences and the subordination of development to military interests.

The traditional distinction between development and military activities has disappeared in recent years. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, "protracted crises" are characterised by de facto trusteeship rule that involves functions that extend beyond purely military tasks – including efforts to stabilise fragile security, restore effective statehood and embark on economic and social reconstruction. Secondly, development policy is increasingly interested in gaining influence in post-conflict situations. Thirdly, other policy fields, above all foreign and security policies, are calling for an active involvement of development policy in post-conflict situations.

Donors have not paid sufficient attention to the impact of this trend. Several findings indicate that the convergence of security and development may have both positive and negative implications by:

Promoting greater co-operation between military and development operations in reconstruction efforts through joint planning, the exchange of information and the creation of a secure environment for development.
Assisting development actors in responding to post-conflict situations which require a combination of both security and development measures – including economic and social reconstruction.
Blurring the distinction between development objectives and military interests. This could result in the subordination of development to security objectives or weaken the mandate of military operations.
Creating new challenges for development policy as development funds may be used for military actions and leave open the possibility that development actors may become targets of armed attack.
Leading to profound shifts in donor policy. For example, although Germany traditionally maintained a clear distinction between security and development, the Bundeswehr is now directly involved in German overseas missions.

Donors should redefine the specific character and independence of development policy from other external policy fields. This redefinition should avoid the following situations: the dominance of military objectives, the overlapping of activities and the use of development funds for military operations. Donors and policy-makers should also:

Ensure the protection of basic development principles such as long-term sustainability and ownership by developing countries.
Guarantee that military missions have a clear legal basis in international law before involving development actors in post-conflict situations.
Clarify the definition and scope of Official Development Assistance (ODA) to ascertain whether it is possible to fund security sector reform in developing countries.
Learn from innovative policies such as Germany's efforts to strengthen the independence of development policy in Afghanistan and the UK's establishment of inter-ministerial mechanisms, such as joint conflict pools.
Follow attempts at the EU level to integrate all areas of external assistance that may be important for the future of civil-military co-operation.
Undertake further research on the implications of merging development, security and military sectors.

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Source: Klingebiel, S. and Roehder, K., 2005, ‘Subordination or Cooperation? New Interfaces between Development and Security Policy (with reference to examples from Germany)', Peace, Conflict and Development, issue 6
Author: Katja Roehder , DIE@die-gdi.de
German Development Institute (GDI), http://www.die-gdi.de