1. Sampol 208, Lecture 11 Preparations for take home exam Åse Gilje Østensen asego@cmi.no

2. What to study – what is important?
Look at the different topics of the lectures
Basic concepts (security, sovereinty, mercenary, PMSC, etc.)
Basic relations - security and the state, why is the state «natural» security provider? - Reflections on the state monopoly on violence
Issues: Outsourcing and governance
Remember to define key issues/ concepts that is deal with in the essay!!

3. Goals
- Demonstrate knowledge of the role of the state as security provider, its historical developments and its different contemporary manifestations.
- Account for some of the political and historical mechanisms that has facilitated a worldwide market for security and military services.
- Display solid knowledge of different types of commercial security outfits, the main characteristics of the market for security services, both in weak and strong states, as well as in contexts of peace and violent conflict.
- Demonstrate command of different theoretical approaches to understanding the commercialization of security and the various consequences that these theories imply.
- Discuss implications of the commercialization trend in relation to democratic and legal accountability, as well as the state monopoly of legitimate use of violence and civil-military relations.
- Compare the commercialization of security in selected countries ranging from Norway, the United Kingdom, and the United States to countries like South Africa, Kenya and Afghanistan.

4. ON PMSCs (What caused the emergence of PMSCs?)
What is A PMSC? Labels?
(What caused the emergence of PMSCs?)
How should we understand their role?
Are PMSCs mercenaries?
What services do they provide?

5. ….More on PMSCs
Why have PMSCs emerged as service providers in war/peace?
Is that problematic? How so? (remember: pros and cons)
Are PMSCs regulated?
How do PMSCs influence policy making?

6. Starts: Wednesday 16.11.2016 at 8 am (08.00)
Deadline: Friday at 5pm (17.00)
Max 3000 words!!
(meaning words)

7. Starting off Read the exam question carefully, several times
(there are several different parts of each question which you should address)
Don’t come up with a new «research question» or redefine it
Don’t make unnecessary delimitations
Take time to read up, gather material before you start writing. Don’t write in panic!!!

8. Writing Structure your thoughts Make an outline – and remake it!
Use examples and illustrations from the literature or from the lectures (but don’t copy stuff from lectures!)
Remember to use references in the text and include a literature list (bibliography)
Use headlines and subheadings
Spend extra time on your intro and conclusions

9. Try to elevate your discussion to also include questions like: what are the implications of…?

10. Don’t get emotional or pompous
Show, don’t tell.
Tone: this is an intellectual analysis not a opinion piece - Keep a personal distance
Don’t get emotional or pompous
Shame on you!

11. Language Be conscientious about the language you use: precision!
avoid clinches
avoid unnecessarily normative words
avoid too many rhetorical questions:
Ex: «……, so why would this be the case? Has the development gone too far?» Have PMSCs become indispensable? bla. Bla.

12. Bottom line, you should:
Demonstrate command over central concepts
Demonstrate knowledge (ref to literature)
Demonstrate an ability to problematize and discuss!
Be able to say something in the conclusion perhaps about implication SO WHAT?

13. Be careful when using numbers (contractors =?)
You may also use additional material
Check out: Private security monitor
Privatemilitary.org