The concept of “securitocracy” is used by Salam Kawakibi to describe Southern Mediterranean regimes such as the ones in Egypt, Tunisia or Libya before the Arab Spring. These regimes were based on the repression against any kind of opposition and the society, along with security forces, became victims of a regime governed by a culture of fear.

Following the democratic uprisings of these countries, political systems are to be redefined. According to Salam Kawakibi, the reform of the security sector is a crucial step towards the establishment of a democratic regime. The process starts with the removal of the culture of fear associated to the security apparatuses and ends with the progressive democratic control of the whole security sector.