The Modern Mercenary
by Sean McFate · first published 2014
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2HN commenters
2015–2021first – last mentioned
100% recommend
In The Modern Mercenary, Sean McFate lays bare this opaque world, explaining the economic structure of the industry and showing in detail how firms operate on the ground. A former U.S. Army paratrooper and private military contractor, McFate provides an unparalleled perspective into the nuts and bolts of the industry, as well as a sobering prognosis for the future of war. While at present, the U.S. government and U.S. firms dominate the market, private military companies are emerging from other countries, and warlords and militias have restyled themselves as private security companies in place
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I disagree with the author's attitude towards mercenaries operating in foreign countries. Having read "The Modern Mercenary", by former Blackwater merc, Sean McFate, I am fully convinced that mercenaries have a desirable and necessary place in future conflicts. Take Afghanistan for example. It is a nation at a major geographic…
on “Stop-And-Seize Turns Police into Self-Funding Gangs” ↗…the beginning of the end of the Westphalian state-based order and signaling a new world order of overlapping authorities and loyalties, from multinational corporations to terrorist organizations. "The Modern Mercenary" by Sean McFate is a good book based on this idea.
on “The General Crisis of the 17th Century” ↗For a book pointing more forward, than looking back, I recommend "The Modern Mercenary: Private Armies and What They Mean for World Order" by Shawn McFate. Could probably use an update post Afghanistan / Syria etc. https://www.amazon.com/Modern-Mercenary-Private-Armies-World...
on “The Frenchman who pioneered the modern mercenary industry” ↗…enterprise, as before national armies were the norm. Where military power is primarily mercenary, and strategic interest is dictated by private actors. Sean McFate discuss some of this trend in his book "the Modern Mercenary". [ed: One might view the use of force in establishing the keystone xl pipeline against native american interests as a microexample of how this might play out not only in "unlawful regions", but even…
on “Outlawing War? It Actually Worked” ↗