New book - Outsourcing Peace?
Åse Gilje Østensen, research fellow at the Departement of Comparative Politics, has published a book called "Outsourcing Peace?: The United Nations' Use of Private Security and Military Companies"
Main content
Private companies provide security and military services to states, international organizations, international non-governmental organizations, and individuals. This thesis addresses the United Nation¿s use of private security and military companies (PSCs and PMCs). The study looks into the characteristics of this practice and subsequently provides some explanations for the pattern and rationale thereof. The study suggests both radicalized external operating environments and internal organizational capacities have contributed to increasing the demand for private security services. On the supply side, the analysis indicates that comprehensive image refinement efforts on part of the industry have added to the UN deploying these companies.