Episode

Mercenaries, Private Security, and the Civilian Cost of Outsourced Coercion

Podcast: Insider: Short of War
Published: May 12, 2026
Duration seconds: 1190
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Canonical source: https://irregularwarfareinsider.podbean.com/e/mercenaries-private-security-and-the-civilian-cost-of-outsourced-coercion/
Audio: https://mcdn.podbean.com/mf/web/8h44pu5hhrjkjtm7/The_Global_Gig_Economy_of_War.mp3
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Summary

This episode examines the strategic shift toward private military force and how marketized coercion exploits legal gaps to manage escalation below the threshold of war. It argues for a new regulatory approach focused on functions rather than actor labels to ensure true accountability.