ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the growing embrace of military-security-related privatization over recent decades. It begins with a brief history of the modern private military (mercenary) industry. The most dramatic acceleration of the use of private military and security companies (PMSCs) occurred shortly after the 2003 invasion of Iraq. One key example was the Pentagon’s Project Matrix, where a private firm would be contracted to manage a coordination center for over 50 PMSCs. It was awarded to Aegis Defense Services Ltd., a company that proved emblematic of the evolution and transformation of the industry over the past several decades. Political divides during the Iraq conflict in the US Congress meant no substantial actions were taken to monitor, control, and limit the influence of these private companies over the foreseeable future. The chapter also explores the case of Blackwater and how it evolved to make itself indispensable to the US government, despite a trail of investigations for serious crimes and other violations. The chapter concludes by taking up a series of pressing human rights concerns associated with the use of private corporations for military contracts.
