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The Impact of Mercenaries and Private Military and Security Companies on Civil War Severity between 1946 and 2002

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  • Ulrich Petersohn

Abstract

Research has long abandoned the view that only states wage war. On the contrary, civil war research has produced an impressive body of literature on violent non-state actors. Still, a particular group of actors—mercenaries—has been widely neglected so far, although they have participated in numerous conflicts in the second half of the twentieth century. Whether their presence aggravated or improved the situation is a matter of dispute. Some believe that the additional military capabilities provided by mercenaries help to end civil wars quickly without increased bloodshed, while others deem mercenaries greedy and bloodthirsty combatants who contribute to making civil wars more brutal, while a third opinion differentiates between different types of mercenaries. This article tests the impact of mercenaries on civil war severity. The evidence indicates that the presence of both mercenaries and private military and security contractors increases its severity.

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  • Ulrich Petersohn, 2014. "The Impact of Mercenaries and Private Military and Security Companies on Civil War Severity between 1946 and 2002," International Interactions, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(2), pages 191-215, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ginixx:v:40:y:2014:i:2:p:191-215
    DOI: 10.1080/03050629.2014.880699
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    1. Chojnacki, Sven & Metternich, Nils & Münster, Johannes, 2009. "Mercenaries in civil wars, 1950-2000 [Söldner in Bürgerkriegen, 1950-2000]," Discussion Papers, Research Unit: Market Processes and Governance SP II 2009-05, WZB Berlin Social Science Center.
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    Cited by:

    1. Benjamin Tkach, 2019. "Private military and security companies, contract structure, market competition, and violence in Iraq," Conflict Management and Peace Science, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 36(3), pages 291-311, May.
    2. Ulrich Petersohn, 2017. "Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs), Military Effectiveness, and Conflict Severity in Weak States, 1990–2007," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 61(5), pages 1046-1072, May.
    3. Batten, Jonathan A. & Boubaker, Sabri & Kinateder, Harald & Choudhury, Tonmoy & Wagner, Niklas F., 2023. "Volatility impacts on global banks: Insights from the GFC, COVID-19, and the Russia-Ukraine war," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 215(C), pages 325-350.

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    1. Ulrich Petersohn, 2017. "Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs), Military Effectiveness, and Conflict Severity in Weak States, 1990–2007," Journal of Conflict Resolution, Peace Science Society (International), vol. 61(5), pages 1046-1072, May.

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