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This analysis aims to explore why democratic police reform often fails in the former Soviet Union, focusing on state capacity and political dynamics.

August 25, 2022Policing & SocietyOpen Access

Why democratic police reform mostly fails and sometimes succeeds: police reform and low state capacity, authoritarianism and neo-patrimonial politics (in the former Soviet Union)

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Uncovers the nuances of police reform outcomes in low capacity states, suggesting key barriers to success and potential for partial reform.

This analysis aims to explore why democratic police reform often fails in the former Soviet Union, focusing on state capacity and political dynamics.
Analyzed political and police transformation in Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
Examined the effects of state capacity and neo-patrimonialism on police reform outcomes.
Identified barriers created by corrupt elites and organized crime.
Low state capacity severely hampers police reform efforts, with insufficient pay and weak bureaucratic control.
Authoritarian regimes often resist reforms that threaten their interests, leading to persistent corruption.
Partial reforms may succeed in regimes that prioritize improving police effectiveness over maintaining corruption.

Liam O’Shea (2022) studied this question.

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Uncovers the nuances of police reform outcomes in low capacity states, suggesting key barriers to success and potential for partial reform.