Security Sector Governance and Civil Oversight Lessons from the COVID-19 Military Deployments

Abstract

Extensive military deployments during COVID-19 have raised concerns about executive over-reach, the impact on democratic and legal rights, and civilian control over the military. This study focused on the extent to which civil oversight was compromised in South Africa, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom. The findings revealed that in all three cases there were elevated levels of executive dominance, enabled by the securitization and militarization of the pandemic response. In terms of parliamentary oversight, all three countries initially fell short of ensuring robust oversight and accountability. This void was countered by other institutions, spheres of government, or civil society watchdogs, which reveals that several layers of oversight are required during times of crises. A key takeaway is that where oversight and accountability is weakened, the political power of the military can erode democratic quality. For this reason, institutions responsible for Security Sector Governance must be strengthened, especially in times of crises to avoid slippage and the erosion of fundamental rights of the citizenry.