Subcontracting military power: the privatisation of security in contemporary Sub-Saharan Africa
This article seeks to establish a clear difference between the classical view of mercenaries as hired guns and the more recent, business oriented, phenomenon of private security companies. The limitations of the definitions currently used in international law will be explored and their impact on the...
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2000
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| In: |
Crime, law and social change
Year: 2000, Volume: 33, Issue: 1/2, Pages: 131-149 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | This article seeks to establish a clear difference between the classical view of mercenaries as hired guns and the more recent, business oriented, phenomenon of private security companies. The limitations of the definitions currently used in international law will be explored and their impact on the control of private military forces assessed. The article will then go on to identify the particular circumstances existing in Africa that provide such a fertile environment for the operation of private security companies. The activities of Executive Outcomes and Sandline International Ltd will be used as case studies, particularly their operations in Sierra Leone. Their corporate connections will be highlighted, especially their links to mineral extraction companies, and how these are used to finance their operations by the host countries. Finally, recent attempts to legislate to control the activities of these companies are examined. |
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| ISSN: | 1573-0751 |
| DOI: | 10.1023/A:1008346303773 |
