An Approach to Mapping and Measuring Security Sector Reform

The rationale for measuring Security Sector Reform (SSR) in Serbia will be explained in the first part. We will then go on to show how this rationale has influenced the shaping of the research topic, the method of measurement and the choice of criteria. For this purpose a brief overview of the method used in analysing the context of security sector reform will also be given, including a look at the effects of the findings on formulating the key research question. Next, we will describe the process of developing the Security Sector Reform Index (SSRI), including the challenges that the research team was faced with whilst testing the methods for measuring the progress of security sector reform in the case of Serbia. In addition, we will present some of the lessons learnt and dilemmas which arose while monitoring the trends and assessing the achievements of SSR in Serbia. Certain insights gained during the research are offered, as we believe they may be of use for the research and measurement of SSR in other countries. This paper concludes with an outline of the research team’s plan for further future development of the methods presented.