Deciphering the Security Community Debate

Kirsten van Kaathoven

Issue & Policy Briefs November 30, 2012, No. 107

Several attempts have been made in recent years to revive a process towards developing more trust and reconciliation in the Euro-Atlantic and Eurasian space. But much of this debate has not been very accessible; concepts are abstract and the formats for discussion have also been less visible and interesting for media and policymakers. The search is still on for a viable approach, one that will not avoid the most controversial questions relating to conflicts, human rights and arms control, but one that will also create a process leading to more common ground in areas such as transnational threats, including the fight against drugs, organized crime, human and arms trafficking and terrorism. In order for this to happen, there will clearly need to be both a political will to prioritize and a readiness to learn from the mistakes of the past, not least with regard to Afghanistan. This policy brief seeks to give an overview of the state of play in the security community debate.

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