United Nations and Private Military Companies: Impact of the Mercenary Norm

• Název v anglickém jazyce: United Nations and Private Military Companies: Impact of the Mercenary Norm
• Akademický rok vypsání: 2013/2014
• Typ práce: diplomová práce
• Jazyk práce: angličtina
• Ústav: Katedra mezinárodních vztahů (23-KMV)
• Vedoucí / školitel: prof. Mgr. Oldřich Bureš, Ph.D., M.A.
• Řešitel: skrytý - zadáno vedoucím/školitelem
• Datum přihlášení: 22.06.2014
• Datum zadání: 23.06.2014
• Datum a čas obhajoby: 22.06.2016 08:00
• Místo konání obhajoby: IPS FSV UK, U kříže 8/661 158 00 Praha 5 – Jinonice
• Datum odevzdání elektronické podoby: 05.05.2016
• Datum proběhlé obhajoby: 22.06.2016
• Oponenti: Mgr. Jan Daniel, Ph.D.

Zásady pro vypracování

Main aim of the thesis

The aim is to observe the relationship between the UN – through the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”, and PMCs. We will be observing whether there has been an evolution in the discourse of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination” regarding PMCs. Therefore we would observe if the UN has become more conciliatory in respect to the use of PMCs, or whether it is still continuing to maintain that PMCs are basically mercenaries – consequently classifying them negatively. In parallel, we will analyse in great details the evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs. By combining the two previous parts of the research, we will be able to conclude whether the evolution of the discourse is following the trend in the use of PMCs, or whether the discourse of the UN is still maintaining that PMCs are mercenaries, therefore demonstrating a certain hypocrisy of the UN.

Outline:
- Introduction (approximately 15 pages)
- Conceptual framework (4-5 pages)
- Methodology (approximately 3-4 pages)
- The evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs (approximately 15 pages)
- Discourse analysis of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination” (approximately 15 pages)
- Analysis of the two previous steps (approximately 5-10 pages)
- Conclusion (approximately 5 pages)

Introduction

We will begin the thesis by stating that the UN has faced many problems during its existence, and that one of the main problems put forward is the protection of people around the globe, therefore the UN’s humanitarian mission. To demonstrate this, we will use the available literature and historical examples. We will present a small number of UN failures in details (the exact cases are still to be selected). By observing these failures, and combining what we find with the literature, we will compile a list of problems faced by the UN; these would include troop contributions, financial resources, under trained/equipped troops and lack of specialists, national command. This will lead us to present one of the proposed solutions for facing such problems; the contracting of Private Military Companies, or “mercenaries”. We will therefore deeply present the debate existing in the academic and political worlds (using the abundant literature on the subject); some argue that the UN should make use of PMCs and that it could be a good solution given the many problems faced by the UN. Others, on the other hand, would argue that it is not an appropriate or viable solution.
We will mention that the UN has been using PMCs for quite some time already; however, we will not go into details here since this will be a separate part in our thesis.

Having introduced the issue and the debate, we will state what we want to observe in this thesis, therefore what our goals/aims are. As mentioned earlier, in this thesis we want to observe what relationship the UN maintains with PMCs, and more precisely how the UN classifies them. At this point, we will present the group we will be focusing on in this thesis; the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”. We will explain what this group does, why it was created, etc…
Following this, we will present our research question. It will include the following interrogation; has the UN become more conciliatory vis-à-vis PMCs, or is it hypocritical and continues to maintain negative classifications such as “mercenaries”?

Regarding the conceptual framework, as discussed with Professor Bures, it will be difficult to use an existing theory for this thesis. However, we will use Sarah Percy’s book “Mercenaries: The History of a Norm in International Relations” to trace the evolution of the norm. By tracing the evolution of the norm, we will find in which direction the norm has evolved over time. Doing this will allow us to bring forward our hypothesis;
- If “mercenaries” have become more accepted, we will assert that the UN’s discourse is likely to have become more conciliatory regarding PMCs.
- On the other hand, if mercenaries have not become more accepted, we will assert that it is likely that the UN will have continued to classify PMCs in a negative manner.

Methodology; discourse analysis

In this part of the thesis, we will explain what method we will be using to answer our research question, and consequently validate or invalidate our hypothesis.
The scientific method that will be used in this thesis will be “discourse analysis”.
The analysis will be separated into three parts:
1. We will observe in great details the evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs over time.
2. We will apply a discourse analysis on statements and reports from the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”.
3. We will combine both parts and establish whether the evolution of the use of PMCs have been accompanied by an evolution in the UN’s discourse.

Evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs

This will be a very detailed examination of the UN’s use of PMCs. We will compile every single use of PMCs by the UN. The objective in this part is to end up with two pieces of information. First of all, the strict number of contracts given to PMCs by the UN. Secondly, the “qualitative” evolution, meaning what kind of missions have been given to PMCs over time (for example water purification, transportation, etc…). We believe that we will end up with the following conclusion; the UN has increased the use of PMCs (both a quantitative and a qualitative increase). Once we have demonstrated this, we will assert that this should obviously have led to an evolution of the discourse occurring from the UN vis-à-vis PMCs (becoming more conciliatory and less intransigent).

Discourse analysis of documents originating from the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”
We will analyse different kinds of documents established by the aforementioned working group (annual reports, etc.). The objective will be to observe whether there has been an evolution/any evolving trends. We would like to place the eventual evolution on a graphic in order to facilitate the following part of the research (presenting on a temporal graphic each time there is a change in the group’s point of view).

Comparison of the two previous parts of the thesis
In this part of the research, we will bring together the two previous parts. There will be one objective; to observe whether the evolution of the discourse follows the evolution of the practice. Observing this will allow me us validate or invalidate our hypothesis.
The precise manner in which we will proceed will of course depend on how my research will have evolved up to this point.

Conclusion

In this part, we will bring the conclusion to our research. We will also mention the limits of our thesis, the eventual problems faced during this research, and eventual “solutions”. Solutions here are likely to be proposals that would be addressed to the issue of hypocrisy if it axtually exists.
Potentially we will give our point of view as to how the relationship will evolve between the UN and PMCs.

FINAL NOTE: Sarah Percy’s work is most likely global and will take into account the global “mercenary norm”. To establish our hypothesis, this will be okay and doesn’t pose a problem. It would for example allow us to reach our hypothesis and trace the global evolution of the use of so-called “mercenaries” around the world (useful for our introduction).
However, in this thesis we are strictly focusing on the UN’s use of PMCs. This could be an interesting point to mention, especially if there is a difference between the “global norm” and the “UN’s norm” regarding “mercenaries”. We could for example conclude whether the global norm has had an impact on the UN’s discourse and behaviour vis-à-vis PMCs, or whether the UN has stayed impermeable to the “mercenary norm”.

Seznam odborné literatury

Bibliography for the methodology
JONES, Rodney H. Discourse Analysis: A Resources Book for Students [online]. http://www.routledge.com/cw/9780415610001-jones/s1/section-a/ (accessed 15 June 2014)

JORGENSEN, Marianne, Phillips Louise. Discourse Analysis as Theory and Method [online]. 2002. http://www.rasaneh.org/images/news/atachfile/27-3-1391/file634754469767402343.pdf (accessed 15 June 2014)

SCHNEIDER, Florian. How to Do a Discourse Analysis, Politics East Asia [online]. 13.05.2013. http://www.politicseastasia.com/studying/how-to-do-a-discourse-analysis/ (accessed 15 June 2014)

Bibliography for the research
AVANT, D. (2004). The Market for Force: The Consequences of Privatizing Security. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Brayton, Steven. Outsourcing War: Mercenaries and the Privatisation of Peacekeeping. Journal of International Studies 55, no. 2 (Spring 2002): 303-29.

BURES, Oldrich. Private Military Companies: A Second Best Peacekeeping Option? International Peacekeeping, 2005, vol. 12, no. 4, p.533-546

FULLOON, Mark. Private Military Companies: The New Condottieri. Social Alternatives, 2013, Vol. 32 Issue 1, p49-52.

GLOBAL POLICY FORUM. PMCs and the UN: this webpage contains links to multiple articles related to the relationship between the UN and PMCs.

Jäger, T. and Kümmel, G. (2007). Private Military and Security Companies: Chances, Problems, Pitfalls and Prospects. VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.

KALMAN, J. Mercenaries reloaded? Applicability of the notion of 'mercenaries' in relation to privatemilitary companies and their employees. Acta Juridica Hungarica, 1 December 2013, 54(4):367-383

KRUCK, Andreas. Theorizing the use of private military and security companies: a synthetic perspective. Journal of International Relations & Development, Jan2014, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p112-141

Lawyer, Jared F. "Military Effectiveness and Economic Efficiency in Peacekeeping: Public Versus Private." Oxford Development Studies 33, no. 1 (March 2005): 99-106.

Ortiz, C. (2010). Private Armed Forces and Global Security: A Guide to the Issues. Santa Barbara: Praeger.

PATTERSON, Malcolm Hugh. Privatising Peace: A Corporate Adjunct to United Nations Peacekeeping and Humanitarian Operations

PERCY, Sarah. “Mercenaries: The History of a Norm in International Relations”

PINGEOT, Lou. Dangerous Partnership: Private Military and Security Companies and the UN. New York: Global Policy Forum, 2012. 52p.

Singer, Peter W. Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry. Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 2003.

SINGER, Peter W. Peacekeepers, Inc. Policy Review [online]. June 2003. http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2003/06/usmilitary-singer (accessed 15 June 2014)

Taulbee, James Larry. "Mercenaries, Private Armies and Security Companies in Contemporary Policy." International Politics 37 (December 2000): 433-56.

Taulbee, James Larry. "The Privatization of Security: Modern Conflict, Globalization and Weak States." Civil Wars 5, no. 2 (Summer 2002): 1-24.

All the primary sources occurring from the work of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”.
http://www.ohchr.org/EN/Issues/Mercenaries/WGMercenaries/Pages/WGMercenariesIndex.aspx

Předběžná náplň práce

Outline:
- Introduction (approximately 15 pages)
- Conceptual framework (4-5 pages)
- Methodology (approximately 3-4 pages)
- The evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs (approximately 15 pages)
- Discourse analysis of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination” (approximately 15 pages)
- Analysis of the two previous steps (approximately 5-10 pages)
- Conclusion (approximately 5 pages)

Předběžná náplň práce v anglickém jazyce

Main aim of the thesis

The aim is to observe the relationship between the UN – through the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”, and PMCs. We will be observing whether there has been an evolution in the discourse of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination” regarding PMCs. Therefore we would observe if the UN has become more conciliatory in respect to the use of PMCs, or whether it is still continuing to maintain that PMCs are basically mercenaries – consequently classifying them negatively. In parallel, we will analyse in great details the evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs. By combining the two previous parts of the research, we will be able to conclude whether the evolution of the discourse is following the trend in the use of PMCs, or whether the discourse of the UN is still maintaining that PMCs are mercenaries, therefore demonstrating a certain hypocrisy of the UN.

Outline:
- Introduction (approximately 15 pages)
- Conceptual framework (4-5 pages)
- Methodology (approximately 3-4 pages)
- The evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs (approximately 15 pages)
- Discourse analysis of the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination” (approximately 15 pages)
- Analysis of the two previous steps (approximately 5-10 pages)
- Conclusion (approximately 5 pages)

Introduction

We will begin the thesis by stating that the UN has faced many problems during its existence, and that one of the main problems put forward is the protection of people around the globe, therefore the UN’s humanitarian mission. To demonstrate this, we will use the available literature and historical examples. We will present a small number of UN failures in details (the exact cases are still to be selected). By observing these failures, and combining what we find with the literature, we will compile a list of problems faced by the UN; these would include troop contributions, financial resources, under trained/equipped troops and lack of specialists, national command. This will lead us to present one of the proposed solutions for facing such problems; the contracting of Private Military Companies, or “mercenaries”. We will therefore deeply present the debate existing in the academic and political worlds (using the abundant literature on the subject); some argue that the UN should make use of PMCs and that it could be a good solution given the many problems faced by the UN. Others, on the other hand, would argue that it is not an appropriate or viable solution.
We will mention that the UN has been using PMCs for quite some time already; however, we will not go into details here since this will be a separate part in our thesis.

Having introduced the issue and the debate, we will state what we want to observe in this thesis, therefore what our goals/aims are. As mentioned earlier, in this thesis we want to observe what relationship the UN maintains with PMCs, and more precisely how the UN classifies them. At this point, we will present the group we will be focusing on in this thesis; the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”. We will explain what this group does, why it was created, etc…
Following this, we will present our research question. It will include the following interrogation; has the UN become more conciliatory vis-à-vis PMCs, or is it hypocritical and continues to maintain negative classifications such as “mercenaries”?

Regarding the conceptual framework, as discussed with Professor Bures, it will be difficult to use an existing theory for this thesis. However, we will use Sarah Percy’s book “Mercenaries: The History of a Norm in International Relations” to trace the evolution of the norm. By tracing the evolution of the norm, we will find in which direction the norm has evolved over time. Doing this will allow us to bring forward our hypothesis;
- If “mercenaries” have become more accepted, we will assert that the UN’s discourse is likely to have become more conciliatory regarding PMCs.
- On the other hand, if mercenaries have not become more accepted, we will assert that it is likely that the UN will have continued to classify PMCs in a negative manner.

Methodology; discourse analysis

In this part of the thesis, we will explain what method we will be using to answer our research question, and consequently validate or invalidate our hypothesis.
The scientific method that will be used in this thesis will be “discourse analysis”.
The analysis will be separated into three parts:
1. We will observe in great details the evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs over time.
2. We will apply a discourse analysis on statements and reports from the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”.
3. We will combine both parts and establish whether the evolution of the use of PMCs have been accompanied by an evolution in the UN’s discourse.

Evolution of the UN’s use of PMCs

This will be a very detailed examination of the UN’s use of PMCs. We will compile every single use of PMCs by the UN. The objective in this part is to end up with two pieces of information. First of all, the strict number of contracts given to PMCs by the UN. Secondly, the “qualitative” evolution, meaning what kind of missions have been given to PMCs over time (for example water purification, transportation, etc…). We believe that we will end up with the following conclusion; the UN has increased the use of PMCs (both a quantitative and a qualitative increase). Once we have demonstrated this, we will assert that this should obviously have led to an evolution of the discourse occurring from the UN vis-à-vis PMCs (becoming more conciliatory and less intransigent).

Discourse analysis of documents originating from the “Working Group on the use of mercenaries as a means of violating human rights and impeding the exercise of the right of people to self-determination”
We will analyse different kinds of documents established by the aforementioned working group (annual reports, etc.). The objective will be to observe whether there has been an evolution/any evolving trends. We would like to place the eventual evolution on a graphic in order to facilitate the following part of the research (presenting on a temporal graphic each time there is a change in the group’s point of view).

Comparison of the two previous parts of the thesis
In this part of the research, we will bring together the two previous parts. There will be one objective; to observe whether the evolution of the discourse follows the evolution of the practice. Observing this will allow me us validate or invalidate our hypothesis.
The precise manner in which we will proceed will of course depend on how my research will have evolved up to this point.

Conclusion

In this part, we will bring the conclusion to our research. We will also mention the limits of our thesis, the eventual problems faced during this research, and eventual “solutions”. Solutions here are likely to be proposals that would be addressed to the issue of hypocrisy if it axtually exists.
Potentially we will give our point of view as to how the relationship will evolve between the UN and PMCs.

FINAL NOTE: Sarah Percy’s work is most likely global and will take into account the global “mercenary norm”. To establish our hypothesis, this will be okay and doesn’t pose a problem. It would for example allow us to reach our hypothesis and trace the global evolution of the use of so-called “mercenaries” around the world (useful for our introduction).
However, in this thesis we are strictly focusing on the UN’s use of PMCs. This could be an interesting point to mention, especially if there is a difference between the “global norm” and the “UN’s norm” regarding “mercenaries”. We could for example conclude whether the global norm has had an impact on the UN’s discourse and behaviour vis-à-vis PMCs, or whether the UN has stayed impermeable to the “mercenary norm”.