Private Military Corporations

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Private Military Corporations
The New Warriors for the New World Order

• Lukáš Visingr

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Introduction Why the PMCs?

• the trends of privatization and outsourcing
• end of the Cold War and the bipolar system
• dismissed soldiers and discarded weapons
• regional conflicts with many subjects involved
• globalization and information revolution

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Contents

• 1. The PMCs vs. the mercenaries
• 2. Three levels of the PMCs
• 3. Examples of the PMCs operations
• 4. Pros and cons of the PMCs
• 5. Topics of current research

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1. The PMCs vs. the mercenaries
Mercenaries PMCs
Private subjects providing military services for payment Private subjects providing military services for payment
Skilled professionals, generally former soldiers Skilled professionals, generally former soldiers
Ad hoc informal groups Permanent organizations
Essentially illegal Legally set and run
Independence Economic ties
Profit for the individuals Profit for the company
Usually combat only Wide range of services
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2. Three levels of the PMCs
I. Military Provider Corporations Direct
combat and intelligence services E.g. Executive
Outcomes, Sandline, Blackwater II. Military
Consultant Corporations Training, exercising and
consultations E.g. MPRI, DynCorp, Vinnell, ATSI,
ATAC III. Military Support Corporations Transpo
rt, supplies and other logistics E.g.
Halliburton, KBR, SAIC, Volga-Dnepr
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3. Examples of PMCs operations

• Executive Outcomes and Sandline International
  have defeated the rebels in Angola and Sierra
  Leone.
• Blackwater USA is an essential ally of the US and
  Iraqi forces in the maintenance of security in
  Iraq.
• MPRI has trained the Croatian army, which has
  finally defeated the once-superior Serbians.
• ATSI and ATAC provide Aggressor combat training
  to the fighter pilots of the US Navy.
• Halliburton is the largest supplier of logistic
  support for the US armed forces.
• Volga-Dnepr flies heavy cargo aircraft, which
  transport both military and civil freights.

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4. Pros and cons of the PMCs

• The main advantages
• military and financial effectiveness
• politically insensitiveness (no body-bag
  effect)
• The main disadvantages
• absence of any legal or factual regulation
• difficultness of control or supervision
• state dependence on the provided services
• weakening of the power of the state
• An advantage, or a disadvantage?
• availability for non-state clients (e.g. TNCs)

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5. Topics of current research

• How to resolve the relations of the PMCs to the
  states and to some non-state subjects? Should we
  be afraid of the PMCs hired by the rogue
  states?
• What is the best way to control the PMCs? Should
  they regulate themselves, or should they be
  licensed by the states, or should it be the task
  of the UN?
• Should the UN, NATO or EU contract the PMCs for
  the peacekeeping missions? If so, what level of
  the PMCs should it be? Support, training or even
  combat?

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Summary

• 1. Comparison of the PMCs and the mercenaries
• 2. Dividing of the PMCs into three levels
• 3. Six examples of operations of the PMCs
• 4. Advantages and disadvantages of the PMCs
• 5. Questions for current theoretical research

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Thank youfor your attention