PMSCs and the Regulatory Environment in Iraq Post-2011

Abstract

This article explores the security demands and regulatory changes in Iraq since 2011 that have required the private security industry to adapt its corporate strategy. Drawing from cutting-edge primary research, including interviews with contractors and with multinational clients in Iraq and the United Kingdom, the article highlights the impact of Western corporate values and government requirements on the operational ability and effectiveness of PMSCs in Iraq. So far, the literature on the subject has fallen short of recognising the global shift in demand, requirements and opportunities that have taken place in the industry since the handover of security to the Iraqi government. This work will provide an urgent update to the current situation in Iraq and its effects on the private military and security companies that operate around the country.