Private military & security companies, conflict complexity, and peace duration: an empirical analysis. (16th November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Radziszewski, Elizabeth; Akcinaroglu, Seden
• Is Part Of: Small wars & insurgencies. Volume 31:Number 7/8(2020)
• Page Start: 1415
• Page End: 1440
• Publication Date: 2020-11-16
• Subjects: Private military and security companies -- civil wars -- peace duration -- intervention; Low-intensity conflicts (Military science) -- Periodicals; Insurgency -- Periodicals; 355.021805
• DOI: 10.1080/09592318.2020.1784500
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-2318

Abstract

ABSTRACT: PMSC training has the potential to improve state capacity, reduce the combatants' opportunity and willingness to fight, and prolong the duration of peace. However, the benefit of PMSC training-related intervention over other types of PMSC interventions depends on the level of conflict complexity. Analysis of novel data on PMSC interventions and peace episodes following major/minor civil wars (1990–2008) shows that in cases when PMSCs intervene, training makes a positive contribution to peace in wars with a limited number of rebel groups that do not resort to terrorism. Positive impact dissipates in conflicts with greater levels of rebel fragmentation and terrorist tactics.