Date of Award

4-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Department

Political Science

First Advisor

Patrick Donnay

Abstract

At the end of the Cold War we witnessed a growing reluctance on part of many national powers to intervene in international crises. This unwillingness allowed for the development of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs). PMSCs have been deployed to provide a wide variety of security-related functions including combat, logistics, training programs, and armed guarding of personnel and infrastructures. Exploring the concept of outsourcing these military functions, others have applied the idea towards addressing humanitarian crises. PMSCs may face fewer geopolitical impediments that can hinder the efforts of many state actors. In certain humanitarian crises PMSCs may better address human suffering. Through detailed case analysis, I have found that the deliverance of aid even for PMSCs, depends on their compliance with the involved state’s government. For example, focusing my research on the humanitarian crisis in Syria, it becomes apparent that President Bashar Al-Assad’s leverage over aid deliveries is exacerbating issues within the country. Concluding that the principles PMSCs and NGOs must follow only allow them to work to the advantage of armed forces involved in a humanitarian crisis.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.