Private military and security companies have become a distinct and increasingly relevant phenomenon in defense and security politics. They can be used in different settings and situations and constitute adequate tools for their various clients. Yet, there is an intense debate about them since they may and do generate specific problems, including severe violations of democratic norms and human rights codices. The present collection of contributions to this topic by distinct experts in the field is unique as it covers most, if not all aspects involved in the use of private military and security companies. As such this anthology serves the interests of both the layman in the field who may read this book as a thorough and encompassing introduction to the field as well as those of the specialist - be it a politician, a journalist, a defense/security practitioner, a student or an academic - who will find new information and genuine, and sometimes even provocative, ideas.

Prof. Dr. Thomas Jäger teaches Political Science, especially International Relations and Foreign Policy, at the University of Cologne (Germany).
Dr. Gerhard Kümmel is Senior Researcher at the Bundeswehr Institute of Social Sciences (SOWI) in Strausberg/Berlin (Germany), Vice-President of the Research Committee 01: Armed Forces & Conflict Resolution within the International Sociological Association, Associate Editor of "Armed Forces & Society" and teaches Military Sociology at the University of Potsdam (Germany).