Ethics of Military Privatization: The US Armed Contractor Phenomenon

The book explores the ethical implications of using armed contractors, taking a consequentialist approach to the multidisciplinary debate. It highlights four areas that highlight the ethical implications of using armed contractors: how they are distinct from soldiers and mercenaries, the commodification of force, the belligerent equality of combatants, and the impact of armed contractors on the professional military. It proposes changes to account for the problems of commodification, belligerent equality, and the challenge to the military profession.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 220 pages
Publication date: 31 March 2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

The use of armed contractors in the military has raised ethical concerns, prompting a comprehensive examination of the issue. While privatization is not a new concept for the US military, the public debate on military privatization has primarily focused on legal, financial, and pragmatic aspects. However, a critical assessment of the ethical dimensions of military privatization is lacking. This book aims to address this gap by exploring the ethical implications of using armed contractors in four key areas: their distinctiveness from soldiers and mercenaries, the commodification of force, the belligerent equality of combatants, and the impact on the professional military. While some argue for a complete ban on private military, this book reveals that there are circumstances where turning to private force may be the only viable option. Recognizing the inevitability of outsourcing force, the book proposes changes to address the problems of commodification, belligerent equality, and the challenge to the military profession. This book will be of interest to students of private security, military studies, ethics, security studies, and international relations in general.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367787271