It seems money rules not only politics but increasingly warfare.

In dysfunctional societies like Somalia, mercenaries act in place of a national army. Even in some countries with recognized governments, both the civilian police force and the military are corrupt or ineffective. Wealthy citizens hire their own security.

Faced with an increasing number of terrorist threats to U.S. diplomatic posts in countries with minimal security, the State Department began contracting with private security firms. The firms handle security for the more dangerous missions. Members of one firm, Blackwater, hired to protect U.S. diplomats in Iraq, were convicted of murdering unarmed civilians after a firefight in Baghdad in 2007.

The contracts with security firms often are lucrative, giving the companies great incentive to manipulate conditions, if necessary to keep a contract. In the case of the Blackwater incident, investigators earlier found serious misconduct by the company, but the findings were ignored because of the security firm’s power over security arrangements.

On a broader issue, going to war becomes easier for a country like the United States if it can contract forces to fight. The government need not mobilize support from its citizens.

It’s doubtful if hired guns will make the world a safer place. Read “Hired Guns” by Allison Stanger, Foreign Affairs, July/August 2015.