Book launch: 'Effective, Legitimate, Secure: Insights for Defense Institution Building'

SIPRI and the US National Defense University will co-host the European launch of the new book Effective, Legitimate, Secure: Insights for Defense Institution Building.

Dr Gary Milante, Director of SIPRI's Peace and Development Programme, provides insights from the development sector in the book. 

The launch event will comprise two panels featuring defence institution building (DIB) experts, including some of the authors, to discuss the book's key findings and the way forward for DIB efforts in Europe as well as efforts supported by European actors in developing countries.

About the book

Effective, Legitimate, Secure: Insights for Defense Institution Building offers an introduction to the concept of 'defence institution building' (DIB) and argues that establishing effective and legitimate defence institutions to bolster a partner’s defence establishment is the only way to ensure long-term security. The global operating environment of the 21st century is diffuse and complex, and threats are often asymmetric and transnational. Such challenges stipulate that no single state, regardless of its traditional military might, can completely address its security objectives alone.

Developing a network of competent partners that can share the burdens and responsibilities of global security and embracing a strategy of coalition and cooperation are, therefore, vital. The challenge is identifying how to best invest resources to help to establish strong and capable defence partners. Traditional security cooperation and assistance approaches have proved insufficient to instate sustained improvements to partners’ defence sectors. DIB fills this gap by supporting partner stakeholders as they develop the systemic capabilities and institutional foundations that a legitimate, effective, professional and sustainable defence sector requires. Thus, DIB promotes responsiveness to civilian control and contributes to the overall security and prosperity of the state—and, in turn, to regional stability and global security.