Paper short abstract:

By drawing on fieldwork data collected on security sector reforms (SSR) in Guinea-Conakry, I empirically explore - first - the network and nature of interactions among the actors involved, and - second - the functions and limits of 'local ownership' in the arena of Guinea's SSR.

Paper long abstract:

Based on comprehensive fieldwork data on security sector reforms (SSR) in Guinea-Conakry, this paper elaborates on four issues lying at the heart of actor and ownership analysis: To begin with, I show how borders between 'internal' and 'external' actors are inherently blurred in Guinea's SSR; not only does the external-internal divide lie in the eye of the beholder per se, actors may also feel the need to strategically shift 'sides' in the course of a reform process. Second, using dynamic actor network analysis, I aim to map interactions and influence as perceived by actors in Guinea's SSR arena, in order to empirically test the assumption of a dialectic inherent in these power relations. Third, the paper critically examines whether 'local ownership' in a non-post-conflict transition state with a government in place such as Guinea can go beyond 'government ownership' at all, i.e., include a broader range of national actors. As a fourth point, by looking at 'local ownership' as a discursive device, I explore in how far actors (with different self-perceived positions on a supposed internal-external continuum) strategically use the notion of 'ownership' in order to increase the legitimacy of their objectives. These insights are based on document analysis and, for the most part, participant observation and interviews. In a final section, I will reflect critically on in which ways and to what extent my analyses are shaped by the specific characteristics of SSR and the Guinean context, with the aim of checking whether some general conclusions may be drawn.