Mercenaries, Hybrid Armies and National Security

'This book has an impressive intellectual boldness and a striking theme: the hybridisation of the armed forces and its impact on the security of the state. One realises from a book like this that serious security studies must remain dependent not only on the political analysis of contemporary events but also on the insightful interpretation of history of just the kind that Varin supplies.' -- Christopher Coker, London School of Economics, UK

'Examining the various roles and accomplishments of mercenaries, contract professionals, and other non-state warriors in the modern world of war, Varin (Regent's Univ., UK) looks at the French Foreign Legion, American contractors in Iraq, and a variety of actors in various countries in war-torn Africa. Somewhat conflicted by this complicated subject, she sees the French Foreign Legionnaire as “the mercenary soldier par excellence” because that force is made up of all volunteers, is part of the French national armed forces, and understands the dangerous and often fatal nature of the mission. Conversely, she is troubled by the way that “the contractor has become the poster boy for the Iraq War.” Various African examples also intrigue and repel as well. This 154-page book provides a useful introduction to these complexities, and Varin concludes that “Although mercenaries, contractors and legionnaires continue to excite the imagination of the public, they remain uncomfortable symbols of violence.” The author also offers the hope that non-state warriors may be made accountable to the states they serve through hybridization and becoming subject to the legal jurisdiction of the host state'. --C. Potholm II, Bowdoin College