Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Review Method: Peer Reviewed
Abstract: The importance of social networks and social capital has been well established, but our understanding of how exactly people maintain useful ties, and how those ties operate day to day, is less advanced. In this paper, I use ethnography to examine the networks of a self-employed construction contractor who relies entirely on networks for job referrals. Though the core of his business comes from people in his own and related occupations, I argue that his use of purely social ties, maintained by extensive socializing, are also crucial, and that types of conversation with no obvious utility, such as gossip, are actually central to his ability to maintain extremely large and occupationally valuable networks.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper analyzes the development of neo-liberal governmentality in security. It focuses on the specific processes, mechanisms and practices through which neo-liberal governmentality is becoming increasingly central in the field of security. The argument begins from the understanding that both in the overall field of security and in our respective sub-fields (EU migration control and military service provision) a neo-liberal governmentality is increasingly present and entrenched. The provision of security is being restructured as a set of (quasi-)markets in security services with a strong emphasis on entrepreneurial values of managerialism and economic reasoning. The neo-liberal governmentality in turn feed into and reshape overall security politics as neo-liberal principles are increasingly mobilized to buttress private agents’ institutional authority as security experts. Exploring the ways in which neo-liberal governmentality feeds into and reshapes overall security governance, we consider the evolving involvement of (1) private security contractors in Darfur and (2) the involvement of private agents in EU immigration control. We argue that in both our cases the neo-liberal governmentality has had strong depoliticizing effects. In making this argument we rely on the Foucauldian notion of governmentality which we give substance using a Bourdieusian framework of analysis.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Recently the 2000th civilian contractor was killed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. This is symbolic of the huge numbers of contractors who have been hired to help prosecute the War in Iraq. This move to increase contractor support is grounded in the modern rationalistic pursuit of economy and efficiency of organizations. Little is know about how this shift in manpower strategy has impacted the service members who work with these contractors. This paper analyzes data from two Army combat arms battalions focusing on soldiers' attitudes toward the civilian contractors with whom they work. Results provide mixed support for the theoretical rational offered for this manning strategy. Implications of soldiers attitudes focus on how best to leverage the value soldiers find in contractors, and simultaneously offer possible ways to address some of the perceived drawbacks to integrating civilian contractors and military personnel.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: This paper will utilize the Multiple Streams framework developed by John Kingdon as the theoretical means to examine the policy decision to increase the use of private military contract firms in Iraq. By focusing on the administration of President George W. Bush, this paper will attempt to demonstrate the utility of Kingdon’s framework by identifying elements of Kingdon’s three streams (problem, politics, and policy streams) of the policy process. This paper hypothesizes that by identifying the particular elements of each of the three streams of Kingdon’s framework within the Bush Administration, a better understanding can be reached regarding how and why the policy of increased use of private military firms emerged as a viable option after the attacks of 9/11.

Publication Type: Conference Paper/Unpublished Manuscript
Abstract: Since the early 1990s the US military has dramatically increased its use of civilian contractors to augment its downsized uniformed personnel in conducting its global missions. Much of the motivation for this trend comes from arguments focusing on the flexibility, efficiency, and effectiveness of contracting (i.e., outsourcing) as a manpower management strategy. This paper uses a case study design to test several arguments made by proponents of military outsourcing. Data were collected from 191 soldiers in an aviation combat squadron OCONUS in December 2004. Respondents provided their attitudes on civilian contractors in their squadron across 14 items. This study is different than the (few) other studies in this area because it focuses on the subjective attitudes of the actual soldiers working with the contractors rather than more macro level objective measures focused heavily on personnel counts, fiscal expenditures, and organizational structure. Regardless of what bean counters and manpower specialists may define as appropriate or successful, the bottom line is how the organization operates and much of this depends on how soldiers define their situation – now in the context of civilian integrated units. Preliminary data analysis indicates soldiers feel strongly about a number of contractors’ work roles and contributions to the Army. Support for the assumptions made by proponents of military outsourcing appears mixed. Unanticipated consequences will be discussed. Implications of these results will be addressed, including the importance of attending to the subjective assessments of soldiers net of an “objective truth” regarding the impact of contractors on the Army.