Mercenaries

Private military companies (PMCs) are assuming an increasingly central role in contemporary conflicts and the foreign policies of both emerging and established powers. From advisory roles to engaging in hybrid warfare and full-scale combat operations, the evolving mission sets of PMCs and the blurring boundaries between state and non-state actors present new risks and challenges. Their pseudo-state functions, operational opacity, and the absence of governing rules and norms not only heighten their appeal to certain governments but also contribute to an enterprise ripe for abuse and impunity.

This project aims to explore how the evolving and expanding operations of PMCs are reshaping human rights and civilian protection landscapes, influencing strategic competition, and disrupting established norms and practices for managing conflict and escalation.