Includes Index

This work examines the regulation of private military companies (PMCs) and the challenges of holding them accountable for misconduct under international law. PMCs have become a significant force in modern times, performing various security, logistics, and strategy functions around the world. Unlike mercenaries or other irregular forces, PMCs have acquired a corporate legal personality, which alters the governance model of today. The relationship between neoliberal states and PMCs is conceptualized as a form of "shared governance," where states rely on PMCs to relinquish some of their power and transfer certain functions to the private sector. As non-state actors grow in authority, other sources of law become relevant to regulating and holding PMCs accountable, such as self-regulation and invoking responsibility. The paper draws on historical examples of different forms of governance to examine the efficacy of existing and evolving PMC regulation.

English.