Judicial Reform – A Neglected Dimension of SSR in El Salvador

Abstract

Security Sector Reform is an integral part of peace-building but the focus of international actors tends to be on formal state security providers. This article argues that reforms in the judicial system are key for the non-violent transformation of societal conflicts. Based on historical institutionalism a theoretical argument links justice and peace. Reforms of the judiciary need to be an integral part of SSR because otherwise reforms in the military and the police can easily be undermined or turned back. A case study on El Salvador provides empirical insights on the interrelation between reforms of these institutions.

Co-operation, Contestation and Complexity in Post-Conflict Security Sector Reform

“…The articles in this special issue shed light on these aspects of norm imposition, adoption, adaption, and contestation. They discuss aspects of diverging historical legacies that have an impact on the contestation of internationally promoted SSR norms (Kocak 2018); the adaption of international models on community-policing for political purposes (Kagoro 2018); and the interaction between different normative areas of SSR and the judiciary (Kurtenbach 2018).…”

“…The interaction between the security context and the normative assumptions of SSR is also pointed out by Kurtenbach (2018). Drawing on the assumptions of historical institutionalism, Kurtenbach shows that the tendency to overlook justice system reform in the context of SSR and wider peacebuilding efforts has serious consequences for the quality and sustainability of peace.…”

Understanding Agrarian Reform in Colombia: The Story from a Field Visit during the International Land Grabbing Conference 2024

“…Colombia has undergone transformative changes; although the 2016 peace agreement and its implementation have brought significant shifts, they have also generated new conflicts and exacerbated existing ones. For instance, the political participation of FARC in promoting small-scale agriculture has polarized the Colombian populace as part of efforts to mobilize votes (Kurtenbach, 2024). Despite these challenges, reformist coalitions have succeeded in regional and local elections, culminating in the election of Gustavo Petro as Colombia's first left-wing president in 2022.…”