Money for Mayhem: Mercenaries, Private Military Companies, Drones, and the Future of War

The way war is waged is evolving quickly, with private military contractors offering military-style services as part of their core business model. Arduino unpacks the tradeoffs involved when conflict is increasingly waged not by national armies but by professional outfits that thrive on chaos. The book charts the rise of private military actors from Russia, China, and the Middle East using primary source data, in-person interviews, and field research amongst operations in conflict zones around the world. It ends by considering the todays trajectories in the deployment of mercenaries by state, corporations, or even terrorist organizations and what it will mean for the future of conflict.

Format: Hardback
Length: 302 pages
Publication date: 15 October 2023
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The way war is waged is evolving rapidly, igniting the rise of private military contractors that offer military-style services as part of their core business model. Arduino delves into the complex tradeoffs involved when conflict is increasingly waged not by national armies but by professional outfits that thrive on chaos. This comprehensive book charts the rise of private military actors from Russia, China, and the Middle East, utilizing primary source data, in-person interviews, and field research across conflict zones worldwide.

Individual stories narrated by mercenaries, military trainers, security businessmen, hackers, and drone pilots will introduce the beginning of each chapter. The book concludes by considering the current trajectories in the deployment of mercenaries by state, corporations, or even terrorist organizations and their implications for the future of conflict.

The book follows private security contractors on missions in various countries, presenting a diverse range of challenges. These include a former Singaporean commando collaborating with a Chinese company in Kabul, a former British Royal Marine leading a Kurdish private military company in Erbil safeguarding BP's oil, and a former Russian Spetsnaz defending commercial vessels from the Somali coast to the Gulf of Guinea.

Aside from the human component, the book closely examines the trends in the adoption of unmanned lethal weapons, delving into the future of weapons that can decide autonomously to kill humans. One chapter is dedicated to loitering munitions, commonly known as suicide drones, used by Israel and the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard for remote-controlled assassination. ISIS has also reengineered Chinese DJI commercial drones for propaganda operations or as advanced artillery spotters.

The book provides a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the evolving landscape of war, highlighting the role of private military contractors and the technological advancements shaping the future of conflict. It sheds light on the complex dynamics and ethical considerations surrounding the use of force in international relations and offers valuable insights into the complex web of factors that drive military operations in today's world.

Weight: 562g
Dimension: 237 x 160 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538170311