The new public management of security: the contracting and managerial state and the private military industry

Private military companies (PMCs) do not often figure as a case study alongside topics such as health and local government in the public management literature. However, this article shows that public management offers critical insights into the reasons why governments contract services to the private military industry. In particular, the article analyses the deep inroads that reforms inspired by new public management have made into the management of defence and security functions since the 1990s, as well as the partnerships established between authorities and PMCs. A key motivation behind such policies has been to raise the efficiency and effectiveness of security provision. However, there have also been some unexpected problems, which are addressed in the article. The conclusions highlight that, despite many imperfections, states will increasingly provide security with the assistance of PMCs.