Editorial: Private military companies

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The private military and security industry is growing, with some estimating annual contracts to be in the $10-$20 billion range and others citing figures as high as $100 billion. The sharp increase in the number and size of private security and military companies took place after the end of the Cold War as private operators filled a security vacuum in weak or failed states, which coincided with the increasing privatization of the public sector and the globalization of business activities.

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