Factors Determining the Participation of Private Military and Security Companies in 21st-Century Armed Conflicts and the Resulting Challenges for State Actors

Jerzy Gut

doi:10.31749/2451-0718-btip-2026-2-004

Published: 2026-10-27

No. 2 (2026)

Factors Determining the Participation of Private Military and Security Companies in 21st-Century Armed Conflicts and the Resulting Challenges for State Actors

Jerzy Gut

Section: Articles

https://doi.org/10.31749/2451-0718-btip-2026-2-004

Abstract

In the 21^st century, we are witnessing a marked increase in the involvement of private military and security companies in ongoing armed conflicts. This trend stems from a variety of factors, including the growing commercialization of security and changes in the nature of modern warfare. States increasingly turn to private actors to fill gaps in military capabilities, enhance operational flexibility, reduce costs, and limit the political risks associated with deploying regular armed forces. However, the activities of private entities also pose numerous challenges for the states that contract their services and exert a direct influence on the socio‑political situation in conflict zones. The aim of this article is to identify the factors shaping the growing involvement of private military and security companies in 21^st‑century conflicts and to outline the resulting challenges for state actors.

Keywords:

private military and security companies , contemporary armed conflicts , military services , international security

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Gut, J. (2026). Factors Determining the Participation of Private Military and Security Companies in 21st-Century Armed Conflicts and the Resulting Challenges for State Actors. Security: Theory and Practice, (2), 75–87. https://doi.org/10.31749/2451-0718-btip-2026-2-004

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