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Private Military Corporations TRAINING SESSION 29.01.2016
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What are PMCs? Companies that provide armed military and security forces Backing, logistics Consulting Training Tactics Actual warfare Who is part of them? Ex-soldiers- mostly $ reasons Trained civilians Other experts
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What are PMCs? They operate Internally- personal security services, guarding locations/communities Are they a legitimate holder of force? Non-state actor with the power to use force-problematic Externally -they are hired by states to fight in wars/interventions, and also by international bodies like the UN Raises problems of legitimacy and accountability Changes the way wars and interventions are fought(more complicated balances of power) Challanges superiority of the state
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Reasons for the rise of PMCs Strategic vacuum created at the end of the Cold War Large armies being downsized Selling of URSS assets lots of sophisticated equipment ‘Body bag syndrome’ The changing nature of war Not gradual accumulation of manpower More power to smaller groups More complex war need for specialist forces Acceptance of privatisation as a good thing Private schools, prisons State-considered incapable of correctly managing certain services(in this case security)
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Effects of the rise in PMCs Good aspects 1. Unique services and state intervention alternative They provide services that might have otherwise not been provided by the state, or anyone, by that matter-only alternative to lots of people dying In international intervention, they provide an alternative for state intervention Paying for PMCs requires less political capital than sending own army ‘Body bag’ syndrome High quality and experience 2. Necessary for economic and political activity In certain countries they protect industries-essential for functioning (oil rigs, mines, etc) Essential in state reconstruction Peace-keeping means institutions can be rebuilt properly and political discourse can happen
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Effects of the rise in PMCs Criticisms 1. Legitimacy State used to have monopoly on the use of violence, why should a non state actor be granted that right Since it represents only individuals who pay, it even more power in society to people who have a lot of influence-not representative(but should it be? 2. Accountability Information gap between gov and PMCs PMCs are not held accountable the same ways armies do, also the degree of transparency is quite low This might influence their behaviour, also makes it harder for just wars to be fought, or for human rights to be respected 3.Incentives Profit-driven entities, with different power structures They might prolongue conflicts in some cases(they need to convince clients that their services are still needed) Disproportionate use of force
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Effects of the rise in PMCs Responses The monopoly of violence point Loses importance when states(both internally and externally) cannot provide the security that certain groups of people need PMCs can be held accountable Stricter legislation : e.g. International Code of Conduct for Private Security Providers More precise contracts Profit incentives-yes! Market driven profit incentives Which means quality of services also matters, reputation is a thing Cannot do abuses of power/lie to your clients to a large extent/have malpractice happening This + stricter legislation reforms in the PMC industry
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Effects of the rise in PMCs Concessions power Some PMCs gain a lot of influence For example, they protect a mine for a share of the profits But the mine cannot really function without their protection, and they know that Controlling a vital industry for a state gives an actor lot of political capital, and lower the ability of country to have meaningful change and reform Diamonds in Sierra Leone Wood in Liberia Oil in Angola Scandals Sept 2007: Blackwater contractors kill 17 civilians in an unprovoked attack PMCs involved in prison abuse in Abu Ghraib
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PMCs in Iraq 2006- at least 100.000 civillian contractors Providing security, supplied armed guards, trained troups Also trained Iraqi police and army after the war Escorting supply convoys They were sometimes arrested by the US military, for acting inappropriately 2005-’trophy’ video showing private military contractors killing Iraqi civilians – Aegis Defence Services Blackwater-one of the most famous companies in Iraq. It had its license revoked by the Iraqi government on September 2007. SO Problems of legitimacy Problems of human rights
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UN and Peacekeeping The UN Charter gives the UN Security Council primary responsibility for peacekeeping Role and problems of peacekeeping operations Secure peace so that law of order and institution reconstruction can happen in post-war societies Protect civilians Conflict prevention Hard for these forces to come from individual countries because there is a lot of political capital needed A lot of political capital needed in order to mobilise troups Spending money is a lot easier than sending troups
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UN and Peacekeeping What do UN Peacekeepers get assigned to do? Disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of ex-combatants; Mine action; Security sector reform and other rule of law-related activities; Protection and promotion of human rights; Electoral assistance; Support for the restoration and extension of State authority; Promotion of social and economic recovery and development. So..PMCs could be regarded as a legit solution. Should they be?
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Factors that influence peacekeeping An important issue with peacekeeping is the ability to act fast It is more likely for the deterrant factor to be higher if you have the capability to act fast Guidance on the principles of consent and impartiality Being regarded as legitimate by the population Promote national and local ownership Sensitivity towards the population and keeping professionalism standards high
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