Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis

The authors examine the rise of Security Force Assistance (SFA)—the training and equipping of foreign armed forces—as a preferred alternative to large-scale combat deployments and expensive security sector reform. They argue that in fragile states, SFA often fails because providers misread local political dynamics, where ruling elites may manipulate security fragmentation for their own survival. The paper critiques the standard principal-agent theory of SFA, suggesting it lacks the nuance to account for the heterogeneity of programs and the lack of cohesiveness among multiple providers and recipients. Through various case studies, the authors highlight unintended consequences, such as the creation of elite units that serve as instruments for regime protection rather than national security.

• Security Force Assistance (SFA) has become a dominant intervention tool in fragile states, replacing large-scale combat deployments and broad security sector reform (SSR) due to lower material and political costs.
• SFA programs in fragile states often produce outcomes contrary to the provider's intent because the logic of governance in these states frequently relies on manipulating the fragmentation of the security sector.
• The proliferation of multiple SFA providers and uncoordinated programs intensifies the fragmentation of the recipient's security forces.
• SFA can inadvertently strengthen authoritarian regimes by enhancing the repressive capacities of security forces or creating specialized units used for regime protection, as seen in The Gambia.
• Standard principal-agent (PA) theory is insufficient for analyzing SFA in fragile states because it fails to account for the heterogeneity of programs, the varying implementation contexts, and the lack of cohesiveness among providers and recipients.
• Motivations for SFA often extend beyond the stated goals of improving professionalism, including 'military diplomacy' to gain influence, creating hardware customers, or satisfying domestic political pressures to 'do something'.

APA

Rolandsen, Ø. H., Dwyer, M., & Reno, W. (n.d.). Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis. Peace Research Institute Oslo. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5cfd4356-e177-411f-8dd0-35bb9e73c445/Security Force Assistance to Fragile States A Framework of Analysis.pdf?inline=true

Chicago

Rolandsen, Øystein H., Maggie Dwyer, and William Reno. Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis. Peace Research Institute Oslo, n.d. https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5cfd4356-e177-411f-8dd0-35bb9e73c445/Security Force Assistance to Fragile States A Framework of Analysis.pdf?inline=true.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rolandsen |first1=Øystein H. |last2=Dwyer |first2=Maggie |last3=Reno |first3=William |title=Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis |publisher=Peace Research Institute Oslo |url=https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5cfd4356-e177-411f-8dd0-35bb9e73c445/Security Force Assistance to Fragile States A Framework of Analysis.pdf?inline=true |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rolandsenndsecurity, author = {Rolandsen, Øystein H. and Dwyer, Maggie and Reno, William}, title = {{Security Force Assistance to Fragile States: A Framework of Analysis}}, institution = {Peace Research Institute Oslo}, url = {https://cdn.cloud.prio.org/files/5cfd4356-e177-411f-8dd0-35bb9e73c445/Security Force Assistance to Fragile States A Framework of Analysis.pdf?inline=true}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }