Democratic Policing in Transitional & Developing Countries

Is it possible to create democratic forms of policing in transitional and developing societies? This volume examines this question from a global perspective by assessing the obstacles inhibiting change and exploring the potential for democratic policing in countries making the transition toward democracy. The editors' argue that policing models and practices promoted by the west are often inadequate for adoption by countries making democratic transitions because they do not address issues such as human rights, equity, co-production, accountability, openness, organizational change, and other related problems adequately. Therefore, police reform is often limited to a "one size fits all" approach. This volume bridges this gap by combining sociology, criminology, development, political science, and other disciplines to expand the dialogue so that discussions of democratic policing around the world are more realistic, comprehensive, and sensitive to the local context. Detailed case studies on Iraq, South Africa, Northern Ireland, and Kazakhstan provide a realistic assessment of the current state of policing. The editors' use the studies to suggest how to promote democratic policing and other important goals of democratic reform around the world. The volume will assist academics, policy makers, NGOs, and others in tailoring a local democratic policing strategy within a broader framework that attempts to enhance socioeconomic development and citizen capacity, build social capital, reduce various forms of conflict, support human rights and other necessary goals that to date have not been considered together.