Recycling as bricolage in the Congolese National Police: lessons from police training in the DRC
This briefing examines a specific aspect of police reform, namely training, a central pillar of Security Sector Reform
Abstract
This briefing examines a specific aspect of police reform, namely training, a central pillar of Security Sector Reform (SSR) and one which—despite its clear limits—is often credited for its capacity to affect behavioural change amongst security actors. Considering that those who are being reformed are not mere willing subjects, but have their own experiences and interests, the briefing will shed light on the narratives of police officers undergoing training in the DRC by asking about their views, how these may impact training, and how best to take them into account in future reform programming. Everyday experiences of rank-and-file police in and after training can provide clues to donors willing to contribute to a more efficient police service. Such clues, in turn, depend on a better understanding of the political economy surrounding police training and how this impacts the behaviours and actions of police trainees.
This work is part of the Conflict Research Programme managed by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and funded by the UK Department for International Development
Citation
Thill, Michel (2019) Recycling as bricolage in the Congolese National Police: lessons from police training in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Congo Research Briefs (2). Conflict Research Programme, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UK.