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Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry, Updated Edition
- (Cornell Studies in Security Affairs)
- Narrated by: John Alexander Brancy
- Length: 13 hrs and 46 mins
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Publisher's Summary
Some have claimed that war is too important to be left to the generals, but P. W. Singer asks what about the business executives? Breaking out of the guns-for-hire mold of traditional mercenaries, corporations now sell skills and services that until recently only state militaries possessed. Their products range from trained commando teams to strategic advice from generals. This new privatized military industry encompasses hundreds of companies, thousands of employees, and billions of dollars in revenue. Whether as proxies or suppliers, such firms have participated in wars in Africa, Asia, the Balkans, and Latin America. More recently, they have become a key element in U.S. military operations. Private corporations working for profit now sway the course of national and international conflict, but the consequences have been little explored.
In Corporate Warriors, Singer provides the first account of the military services industry and its broader implications. Corporate Warriors includes a description of how the business works, as well as portraits of each of the basic types of companies: military providers that offer troops for tactical operations; military consultants that supply expert advice and training; and military support companies that sell logistics, intelligence, and engineering.
This updated edition of Singer's already classic account of the military services industry and its broader implications describes the continuing importance of that industry in the Iraq War. This conflict has amply borne out Singer's argument that the privatization of warfare allows startling new capabilities and efficiencies in the ways that war is carried out. At the same time, however, Singer finds that the introduction of the profit motive onto the battlefield raises troubling questions-for democracy, for ethics, for management, for human rights, and for national security.
Critic Reviews
What listeners say about Corporate Warriors: The Rise of the Privatized Military Industry, Updated Edition
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jorge Rodriguez
- 10-31-16
Fantastic beginning with a weak end
The beginning chapters brings the reader up to speed with a fast and loose history of the hired fighter, and gives excellent context to the subject in the modern day. The narration was outstanding, and the source material was adequate. However, the claims to impartiality leave a lot to be desired in the ending chapters, take this book with a hefty grain of salt. I would still recommend this to interested readers.
2 people found this helpful
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- Curt Hays
- 12-08-16
20th century history of private military corps
This book contains a history of private military corporations, not a history of the individuals in them. It is a very well written book that reads like an essay, and it has been very influential and can be interesting to a certain portion of the population.
1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 07-09-22
Great book
A very insightful and informative read, while depressing at times the information jn this book is still VERY relevant despite being originally published almost 20yrs ago.
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- Anonymous User
- 12-30-19
Prolegomena to PMSC issues
It was a remarkable scientific peace concerning privatizing classic state prerogatives like military service and armed conflicts
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- karl haxthausen
- 07-10-19
good but repetitive
liked it, recommend it, but must be said that I have the feeling it could have been 4hpurs shorter with a bit of effort
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- Johnny B Good
- 12-06-21
Excellent Read
While this book was primarily written for academic purposes it is an extremely interesting and entertaining read about the murky world of mercenaries. The book provides some excellent context to PMF’s, going as far back as the use of private soldiers in Hannibal’s army and the Free Companies of the 100 Years War. Although this book was written before PMF use exploded during the Iraq War, it still holds up remarkably well and a further testament to the book is just how much of what the author predicted came to fruition post 2003. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the narration was excellent.
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- Nikita
- 08-22-16
extremely interesting
A fascinating book which examines the history of mercenaries in history and the proliferation of privates military companies dusting the 90s. Singer also investigates other agencies involved in the business of war, from logistics agencies to private intelligence and strategy companies. Singer examines successes and failures of corporate warriors, the lack of oversight, and the ambiguous moral status of the profession. One of the most interesting reads of recent memory, highly recommend to anyone interested in politics and conflicts. The post Iraq post script is also excellent.