Im Zuge der demokratischen Öffnung Guatemalas begann sich die Bundesrepublik Deutschland ab 1986 mit umfangreichen Ausrüstungslieferungen und Ausbildungsprogrammen an der Reform der berüchtigten Polizei Guatemalas zu beteiligen. Die Ziele dieser sogenannten Polizeihilfe, Professionalisierung und Rechtsstaatsbindung der Polizei, wurden jedoch nicht erreicht und die Kooperation nach Menschenrechtsverletzungen guatemaltekischer Sicherheitskräfte 1991 abgebrochen. Gestützt auf erstmals ausgewertetes Archivmaterial und Interviews analysiert Fabian Bennewitz die Aushandlungsprozesse, die zum Scheitern der Transferbemühungen führten. Indem die Studie den Verlauf der Transfers aus einer transnationalen und relationalen Perspektive rekonstruiert, bietet sie Einblicke in die oft schwer greifbaren Dynamiken entwicklungspolitischer Projekte.
In 1986, in the course of Guatemala's democratic opening, the Federal Republic of Germany launched an extensive police assistance project to help reform the country's notorious police forces. Equipment deliveries and training programs were intended to move the Guatemalan police forces towards democratic policing principles and rule of law standards. By 1991, however, non of these goals had been achieved. After continuous human rights violations by Guatemala security forces, the cooperation was terminated. Drawing on interviews and new archival sources, Fabian Bennewitz analyzes the negotiation processes that ultimately led to the failure of the project's transfer efforts. By reconstructing the highly contingent unfolding of the cooperation from a transnational and relational perspective, the author offers insights into the often elusive dynamics of development projects.
In 1986, in the course of Guatemala's democratic opening, the Federal Republic of Germany launched an extensive police assistance project to help reform the country's notorious police forces. Equipment deliveries and training programs were intended to move the Guatemalan police forces towards democratic policing principles and rule of law standards. By 1991, however, non of these goals had been achieved. After continuous human rights violations by Guatemala security forces, the cooperation was terminated. Drawing on interviews and new archival sources, Fabian Bennewitz analyzes the negotiation processes that ultimately led to the failure of the project's transfer efforts. By reconstructing the highly contingent unfolding of the cooperation from a transnational and relational perspective, the author offers insights into the often elusive dynamics of development projects.