Defense Transparency Project Policy Briefs
Policy Brief 2011-1The Republic of Korea’s Perspective on Defense Transparency
Beomchul SHIN
SUMMARY
The Republic of Korea has greatly enhanced defense transparency both domestically and internationally since the end of the 1990s, using a mix of strategies. However, the efforts of the current administration to enhance defense transparency at the international level do not match efforts at home. Some experts believe that the ROK is already on par with other nations and that its neighbors should reciprocate by shedding more light on their own defense policies and practices.
Policy Brief 2011-2
Harnessing the European Experience in Defense Transparency
Christian LE-MIERE
SUMMARY
Europe has pioneered and championed the cause of defense transparency, owing to the continent’s turbulent history and a desire to avoid these mistakes again. Defense transparency has improved in Europe as a result of the roles played by private industry and media, as well as the consequences of conflict or collaboration between the governments on the continent. The conditions that have encouraged greater transparency in Europe are not entirely reflected in Asia, but steps are being taken to gradually improve defense transparency in the region.
Policy Brief 2011-3
A Civilian Perspective on Defense Transparency in the Republic of Korea: The More, the Better?
Kang CHOI
SUMMARY
In a change from the past, the government of the Republic of Korea now emphasizes communication with domestic as well as external audiences. However, practices during past military authoritarian regimes have left a lasting, negative impression on the public. As a result, the government still suffers from a credibility gap, making it difficult to gain support at home for its defense policies. The government may need to rethink the methods and content of its communications on defense in the face of continued demands for more detailed and timely information.
Policy Brief 2011-4
Measuring Transparency in Military Expenditure: The Case of China
Samuel PERLO-FREEMAN
SUMMARY
This policy brief discusses the key dimensions of military expenditure transparency and assesses them in relation to the specific example of China. While spending transparency relates most obviously to the availability, reliability, detail, and comprehensiveness of information, it cannot be completely separated from broader defense policy formation issues. China has a robust framework for developing, implementing, and monitoring defense policy, budgeting, and expenditure, and producing readily-accessible budget and expenditure data in English and Chinese; however, these processes are largely carried out behind closed doors.
Policy Brief 2011-5
Defense Transparency: Seeking a Definition for a Paradoxical Concept
Jon LINDSAY
SUMMARY
Most people believe that transparency improves governance, by improving trust in relations between governments and their people as well as with other governments. The devil, as always, is in the details. The paradox of transparency is that the metaphor conveys unproblematic revelation of true information, yet in practice the provision of believable, relevant information takes a lot of institutional and political work to achieve. Transparency in international security is more problematic because relationships between the information, its referent, and context of interpretation can be especially complex considering the multiple channels of information competing for attention and authority. This brief proposes a definition of “defense transparency” that takes these complexities into account, drawing on a pragmatic notion of communication between particular information sources, messages, and receivers, the normative goal of which is to enhance collective security.
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Research
