This book investigates the legal, ethical, and practical implications of outsourcing public security functions to private entities. Authors Angelina Fisher and Simon Chesterman examine the intersection of state authority and private enterprise, questioning whether the delegation of core government responsibilities—particularly those involving human rights and security—undermines the rule of law. By synthesizing perspectives from international law, political science, and economics, the text provides a framework for evaluating the accountability gaps created by the privatization of public order.

Experts in international law and public policy identify this work as a critical examination of the shifting boundaries between state and private power. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is well-suited for scholars and practitioners navigating the complexities of modern governance.