Outsourcing, Managing, Supervising, and Regulating Private Military Companies in Contingency Operations

Abstract

This thesis examines the utilization of private military companies (PMCs) by government agencies of the United States in contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The aim of this thesis is to investigate the roles that PMCs play in current contingency operations, and to analyze how PMCs can become more useful instruments in contingency operations if they are properly outsourced, managed, supervised, and regulated. In this regard, this study largely rests on transaction cost economics to explain the logic of outsourcing from governmental agencies' perspectives. On the other hand, principal-agent theory and new institutionalism provide the theoretical basis of using effective oversight mechanisms to exert better control over the activities of PMCs in contingency operations. This thesis recommends the United States, Iraq, and Afghanistan use the Montreux Document as a guide to better regulate PMCs in contingency operations.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Sep 01, 2010
Accession Number
ADA531546

Entities

People

  • Ali K. Dogru

Organizations

  • Naval Postgraduate School

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Business Administration
  • Civilian Personnel
  • Congress
  • Employment
  • Interagency Coordination
  • International Law
  • International Organizations
  • International Relations
  • Law
  • Management Personnel
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Private Military Companies
  • United States
  • United States Government
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Economics
  • Irregular Warfare and Special Operations Cyberspace Operations against Adversarial Threats.
  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.