Private military companies: A second best peacekeeping option?

Abstract

This article analyses the perils and benefits of outsourcing UN peacekeeping to private military companies (PMCs). Various PMCs have a proven capacity to perform at least some peacekeeping functions. Although experts have expressed serious doubts whether their capacity to do peacekeeping will always translate into the achievement of peace and security, the author contends that PMC peacekeeping should not be dismissed on ideological or moral grounds when the choice is either a PMC operation or none at all. It is, however, imperative that the perils of using PMCs are addressed before peacekeeping is turned over to the private market. In particular, a set of clear mechanisms of accountability, control and transparency of the PMCs needs to be put in place.

Deeper Objections to the Privatisation of Military Force

“…As a result, PMSCs have good reason to prolong insecurity, so that they continue to be employed. 67 This incentive to be ineffective may be somewhat counter-balanced by the need to have a good reputation in order to be employed again. However, a PMSC may be able to prolong the conflict without it being obvious that it is doing so and consequently without harming its reputation.…”

As Empresas Militares Privadas e o peacekeeping

“…Em estudos realizados pelo Governo Britânico, pela organização Refugees International e pelo Global Security Partnership Project, o contributo de forças privadas é tido como um passo a considerar seriamente (Bures, 2005: 534-535). Igualmente, existem precedentes na utilização de forças privadas por parte da própria ONU (Adams, 1999;Brayton, 2002;Bures, 2005;Krahmann, 2008;Spearin, 2008 …”

Just War Theory and the Privatization of Military Force

“…25 Similarly, in Bosnia, Dyn-Corp was implicated in a sex-slave scandal, but none of its employees has been put on trial, and the company later fired the whistle-blowers. 26 Of course, not all PMCs and private contractors take advantage of the lack of effective legal accountability (and, in addition, regular soldiers may not always be adequately prosecuted for abuses). The point, rather, is that there is currently no effective system of accountability to govern the conduct of PMC personnel, and this can lead to cases where the horrors of war-most notably civilian casualties-go unchecked.…”