Heralding a new medievalism

Private Military Companies (PMCs) have flourished as states outsource risk and extend influence with plausible deniability. From logistics and training to kinetic operations, the blurred boundary between soldier and contractor complicates the laws of war.

Analysts use the term new medievalism to describe a world where overlapping authorities—states, corporations, militias—compete for power. PMCs thrive in these grey zones, stepping into the gaps created by fragile institutions and fragmented sovereignty.

Accountability is the crux. Robust licensing, transparent contracting, and international reporting standards could mitigate harms—but without democratic oversight, PMCs risk becoming accelerants of conflict rather than stabilisers.