The Corporate Form and the Private Military Corporation

Abstract

Among the more prominent PMCs currently engaged in Iraq is Blackwater USA.1 It claims to be “the most comprehensive professional military, law enforcement, security, peacekeeping, and stability operations company in the world.”2 Blackwater USA comprises five companies: Blackwater Training Center, Blackwater Target Systems, Blackwater Security Consulting, Blackwater Canine, and Blackwater Air (AWS).3 Blackwater states: Our clients include federal law enforcement agencies, the Department of Defence, Department of State, and Department of Transportation, local and state entities from around the country, multi-national corporations, and friendly nations from all over the globe. We customize and execute solutions for our clients to help keep them at the level of readiness required to meet today’s law enforcement, homeland security, and defence challenges. Any and all defence services supplied to foreign nationals will only be pursuant to proper authorization by the Department of State.4 It notes elsewhere that “in addition, certain defence services or products provided to foreign nationals or supplied overseas may be subject to U.S. rules and regulations requiring licensing and authorization by the U.S. Government.”5 As to the extent of its facilities, it boasts, “over 6000 acres of private land, we have trained and hosted over 50,000 Law Enforcement, Military and civilian personnel.”6 In line with corporate profit-making objectives, Blackwater has hired former commandos from the Pinochet regime who can be paid a (relatively) paltry $4,000 per month.7 KeywordsCorporate GovernanceLimited LiabilityFiduciary DutyBusiness CorporationLegal ControlThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.