Signe Larsen

The Weak Leviathan: a Comparative Study of the Privatization of Security in South Africa and Iraq Signe Larsen

With the help of Mark Duffield and Stuart Hall we are making a comparative study of the effects and side effects of the use of Private Military Companies (PMCs) in South Africa and Iraq. We are drawing upon the concepts of our two theorists to give a conclusion to our study. We are investigating how the two countries use the PMCs to obtain security as well as the impact this has on the institutional settings, the population and the state. Furthermore we are looking into the commodification of security, the (lack of) regulation regarding PMCs as well as the need to have security and the possibility to gain/obtain it through the use of PMCs.