'Elke Krahmann breaks new ground in analyzing the privatization of security. Looking through the lens of the social contract provides a fresh theoretical perspective and comparing not just the United States and Britain but also Germany offers novel empirics. Her thoughtful argument should be of interest to both academic and policy audiences.' Deborah Avant, University of California, Irvine 'Amidst the growing number of studies on the privatization of security, Dr. Krahmann's book stands out as a unique and special contribution. Through its utilization of political theory, the book identifies the sometimes troubling implications posed by the privatization of security to the democratic control of armed force. What is more, these implications, in their scope and nature, vary from state to state as made clear in the book's emphasis on relevant case studies.' Christopher Spearin, Canadian Forces College 'In probing the paradoxes surrounding the democratic control of armed forces with specific regard to the proliferating use of private military forces in Europe and North America, this important work manages to shed new light on the transforming relationships among states, soldiers, and citizens and to induce readers to rethink their most fundamental assumptions about the nature of security on the contemporary world.' Robert Mandel, Professor of International Affairs, Lewis & Clark College
