Parth Piyush Prasad
Modern conflicts have evolved far beyond traditional inter-state violence. This evolution has integrated social and economic stakeholders directly into the battlefield, significantly expanding their roles. The presence of non-state actors and increasing distances between relevant battlefields due to globally relevant conflicts further complexify the position state-operated armies hold in modern warfare. Peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery in contemporary conflict zones are an integral part of ensuring long-term peace. Post-conflict recovery requires extensive efforts to foster participatory governance and developing amicable and harmonious relations between the afflicted societies. Traditionally, these efforts were led by state actors, international organisations, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), or indigenous leaders from the conflict zones. Yet privatisation of security services across the globe has led to increased presence of private military contractors (PMCs) in all aspects of conflict and recovery. This research essay aims to establish the position of PMCs in conflict and post-conflict recovery practices through empirical analysis. Utilising Collier and Hoeffler’s ‘greed vs grievance’ model and by addressing the practical and ethical challenges to the presence of PMCs, this essay argues that PMCs are ineffectual tools for post-conflict reconstruction, and require stringent regulation to disincentivise their presence in fragile states.
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