Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)

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State-Building Through Security Sector Reform: The Political Economy of SSR Programming

Abraham Kuol Nyuon, Associate Professor of Politics, Peace, and Security
DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.19506423
Published: May 7, 2026

Abstract

This book review critically examines a recent monograph analysing Morocco's experience with security sector reform (SSR) as a tool of state-building. It assesses the author's central thesis that SSR programming has been instrumentalised by the monarchy to reinforce the Makhzen's authority rather than to foster democratic governance or human security. The review evaluates the evidence presented on key institutions—the military, police, and intelligence services—and the political economy of international donor support. It concludes by situating the work within broader debates on hybrid regimes and the inherent tensions between externally promoted SSR models and domestic power structures in the Maghreb.

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How to Cite

Abraham Kuol Nyuon (2026). State-Building Through Security Sector Reform: The Political Economy of SSR Programming. African Political Violence (Political Science focus), Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19506423

Keywords

Security Sector Reform (SSR)MoroccoMakhzenPolitical EconomyHybrid RegimeState-BuildingMaghreb

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Vol. 1 No. 1 (2026)
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