Volume 5 Number 1

The Institute for Defence Policy (IDP) is experiencing a process of extensive change. From a very small nucleus established late in 1990, the IDP has grown in size and orientation. Today it is one of the largest strategic studies/peace research institutes in Southern Africa and is expanding both its activities and interests to meet the changing needs of the region. It is therefore opportune to reflect on the origins of the IDP and place this within the context of its expanding and changing activities.

The IDP was established by the present Executive Director, Jakkie Cilliers, and Paul-Bolko Mertz, after Cilliers returned from a conference on The Future of Security and Defence in South Africa, organised by the Institute for a Democratic Alternative for South Africa (IDASA) in Lusaka from 23 to 27 May 1990. The seminar was the first occasion where serving and former South African Defence Force (SADF) officers and defence analysts from South Africa met with the armed wing of the ANC, Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK). To Cilliers, at the time the divisional manager for operations research at a systems engineering company in Midrand, a vision for defence and security in South and Southern Africa that would establish effective civilian control over the armed forces of a democratic South Africa and move towards a more inclusive, non-threatening security regime, was imperative. With the assistance of Alex Boraine and Frederik van Zyl Slabbert of IDASA, the IDP was subsequently born with initial seed funding from the Friedrich Naumann Foundation of Germany and the Anglo American and De Beers Chairman`s Fund. In turn, the activities, funding and role of the Institute expanded. In the three years that followed, it had a significant influence on the debate on defence and security in South Africa, by placing it within the context of developments characteristic of the Federal Armed Forces in Germany, specifically the concepts of civic education and leadership, and that of the `Citizen in Uniform`.

The essential character of the Institute during this period was that of an interventionist and activist non-government organisation (NGO) that had to bear the brunt of an extensive intimidation campaign by the former SADF and its military intelligence division. Ironically, it was also suspected at the same time of being some type of `front` organisation for Military Intelligence. But despite opposition and detraction from many sides, the Institute succeeded in defining the parameters of the debate on a variety of issues relating to the nature of civil-military relations in South Africa.

By the beginning of 1996, the IDP has seen a considerably growth and has fifteen full-time employees with a network of research associates stretching across the political spectrum and originating from several countries in Africa.

Fundamental changes to the Institute have come about during 1995 and 1996. It is now an organisation that concentrates equally on content and on process. It is, in fact, the IDP`s belief that the continuous requirement for facilitation and networking should be underpinned by sound policy research. In the process, the Institute has deliberately lowered its political profile and is concentrating on providing research support for policy implementation.

A second important change is the widening of the scope of issues that the IDP concentrates on. After much soul searching, it has been decided to retain the name Institute for Defence Policy, although the IDP has, for some time, been dealing with security in its widest sense - as is evident from its large policing, human security, and other projects.

As part of its expanding research agenda, this year sees the launch of two additional series of publications by the IDP, apart from the flagship African Security Review journal with its distinctive cover and layout. The first of the new publications, is the IDP Monograph Series. The aim of the series is to provide a publishing format that is both time and cost-effective. A monograph will, in contrast to the African Security Review, focus on a single issue and is in A5-format. Several authors may contribute to a monograph or it may consist of a document written by a single author. At present, a minimum of five monographs will appear during 1996. As a result, subscribers to the Review will, within a matter of weeks, receive the first IDP monograph on the restructuring of the part-time forces in South Africa, in time for a conference on the same topic scheduled for 18 March 1996 in Pretoria.

The second new publication for 1996 is a series of IDP Papers. The aim of the papers is to provide an outlet for research in progress - single contributions that contain information that require rapid dissemination due to the nature of the issue involved or the debate in progress. The series will be produced in-house, making it time and cost-effective. The first IDP paper for 1996 is finished and should have reached subscribers before this issue of the Review.

A third new publication, the IDP Update, may also be introduced later this year as a vehicle to keep subscribers and interested parties abreast of new activities undertaken by the Institute. It will include information on planned conferences, seminars and workshops, and developments within existing projects. Information on relevant activities by other organisations may also be included from time to time. Once established, IDP Update will appear approximately five times annually and will be distributed free of charge.

Finally, the Institute has published its fourth book entitled About Turn, on the transformation of the South African military and intelligence communities. This book, edited by Jakkie Cilliers and Markus Reichardt are the first to document and analyse the crucial transformation which effectively served to underpin the larger transformation process in South Africa as a whole. Regular book publications have come to be an additional element of IDP activities.

The above developments have necessitated a reconsideration of subscriptions to publications of the Institute. The new membership format and options are reflected below. In effect, the Institute has changed to a system of two-tiered membership where persons can either subscribe to all the IDP publications, except books, or only to the African Security Review. In both cases, the rates still reflect the ongoing subsidisation of all publications, as a large number of these continue to be distributed free of charge, both in South Africa and beyond.