Comparative analysis and national studies on independent state institutions as security actors
Despite the importance of the role of independent institutions in security sector reform (SSR), the available theoretical and comparative literature on this is very limited. The aim of this study is to overcome this shortcoming in the literature, relying on the methodology and empirical research conducted within the project “Mapping and Monitoring of SSR” in Serbia, conducted by the Belgrade Center for Security Policy (www.bezbednost.org) and the regional project “Capacity building of civil society to map and monitor SSR in the Western Balkans”, which was implemented in cooperation with partners from Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia and Kosovo. Moreover, this study aims to identify key lessons learned on effective strategies for overseeing the security sector by independent state institutions, as well as to identify remaining key challenges. In this way, we hope to contribute to the political debate on democratization and security sector reform in the Western Balkans.