Introduction A mercenary (sometimes shortened to merc) – also called a soldier of fortune, a hired gun, a freelance, or a sellsword – is a private individual who joins a military conflict for personal profit, is otherwise an outsider to the conflict, and is not a member of any other official military. Mercenaries fight for… Read More
Introduction Shadow Company is a documentary directed by Nick Bicanic and Jason Bourque and narrated by Gerard Butler. It is an introduction to the mercenary and private military company industry, concentrating on the role the industry has been playing in recent conflicts. It was released on DVD in August 2006. Overview The documentary film is… Read More
Introduction Academi, formerly known as Blackwater, is an American private military contractor founded on 26 December 1996, by former Navy SEAL officer Erik Prince. It was renamed Xe Services in 2009, and was again renamed to Academi in 2011, after it was acquired by a group of private investors. In 2014, Academi merged with Triple… Read More
Introduction A private defence agency (PDA) is a theoretical enterprise which would provide personal protection and military defence services to individuals who would pay for its services. PDAs are advocated in anarcho-capitalism as a way of enforcing the system of private property. A PDA is distinguished from a private contractor employed by a state which… Read More
Introduction ISO/PAS 28007:2012 was developed as an initiative by the maritime industry and based on a request by the International Maritime Organisation to provide guidelines for ISO 28000-certified companies deploying Privately Contracted Armed Security Personnel (PCASP) on board ships. Outline It was specifically developed for organisations operating in the Piracy High Risk Area in the… Read More
Introduction The International Code of Conduct for Private Security Service Providers (the Code) is a set of principles for private military and security providers, created through a multi-stakeholder initiative convened by the Swiss government. This process involved and continuously involves representatives from private security companies, states, and civil society organisations. The code reinforces and articulates… Read More
Introduction The United Nations Mercenary Convention, officially the International Convention against the Recruitment, Use, Financing and Training of Mercenaries, is a 2001 United Nations treaty that prohibits the recruitment, training, use, and financing of mercenaries. At the 72nd plenary meeting on 04 December 1989, the United Nations General Assembly concluded the convention as its resolution… Read More
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