3 publications on this topic.

Conversion in South Africa in the 1990's: Defense Downsizing and Human Development Challenges
Author: Peter Batchelor, Jacklyn Cock and Penny McKenzie
Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC)
This paper examines post-Apartheid South Africa's experience with defense and military conversion. The paper details South Africa's record in dealing with the reduction and/or restructuring of Military Expenditures, Defense Industry Complex, Defense Research and Development, Surplus Weapons, Demobilization, Rationalization and Demobilization of Military Personnel, and Base Conversion. The paper concludes that while South Africa's post-Apartheid government has made progress in converting the military apparatus, especially with relative and absolute declines in the military's size and in defense expenditures, certain opportunities have been lost in converting military personnel's skills and defense resources to civilian purposes.

Defense Budgets and Civilian Oversight. Partnership for Democratic Governance and Security
Author: Jeanne Kinney Giraldo

Using a wide range of countries at different levels of democratic development, this piece analyzes civilian and military participation in four steps of the budget process: 1) budget formation by the executive 2) enactment into law by the parliament 3) disbursement and spending of funds 4) evaluation of the efficiency and effectiveness of money spent. The analysis concludes that civilians and their democratically elected representatives have not been successful in controlling how money is spent on national security issues. The reasons for this failure are found in the lack of attention to national security issues (viewing this issue as one closed to debate), weak institutions in controlling defense spending i.e. few civilian Ministers of Defense, and a lack of civil society mobilization on the issue.

El presupuesto de defensa en América Latina. La importancia de la transparencia y herramientas para el monitoreo independiente (The Defense Budget in Latin America: The Importance of Transparency and Independent Monitoring Tools (in Spanish)
Author: Marcela Donadio (Coordinator)
RESDAL
The objective of this publication is to offer, in simple language, the vital elements of defense budget analysis and strategies to assist civil society groups in doing budget work. The first half of the paper explains the current state of affairs of the defense sector in Latin America and highlights important considerations when undertaking defense budget work. The second half of the paper aims to provide citizens with the necessary tools for carrying out work on the defense budget, including guidance and suggestions for budget analysis, and strategies for effective budget work.

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