Should private armies be banned? There is an uneasy peace in Russia this morning after the weekend's drama. Some think that it is time to have a conversation about when soldiers are owned by people, not governments.
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Rebel fighters retreat as Putin licks wounds
Should private armies be banned? There is an uneasy peace in Russia this morning after the weekend's drama. Some think that it is time to have a conversation about when soldiers are owned by people, not governments.
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What's happening?
On the weekend, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's former allies declared an armed rebellion against him and threatened to conquer Moscow. His group, the Wagner Group, conquered the city of Rostov-on-Don before abandoning their rebellion.
Yevgeny Prigozhin is the head of a private army that has assisted the Russian army in its invasion of Ukraine. Now, people are discussing the dangers of letting individuals buy "contract" soldiers.
The world has over 150 military contractA legal agreement, either spoken or written. They often relate to jobs or renting homes. companies, which consist of tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of soldiers who are paid to intervene in global conflicts. The Wagner Group, which has strong links to the KremlinA central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel. but is officially independent, has been fighting in Ukraine.
But on the weekend, the leader of the Wagner Group, who is also one of Putin's oldest allies, rebelled against the president and threatened a military coupWhen an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence..
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Even though Prigozhin eventually abandoned his rebellion, it has caused concerns about the future of democracy and stable societies.
In democracies we elect leaders who reflect our values and who we trust to run the country well. But the existence of private armies suggests that any rich person could buy an army, start a military coup and take over the government without needing a single vote.
Some say that private armies are more efficient than state armies and that they play an important role in mediating conflicts. But others say that they make wars about money, not principles.
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Should private armies be banned?
Yes! Private armies want to make wars last longer, because it means they get hired for longer and make more money. That has a really bad impact on the civiliansPeople who are not in the army or the police. impacted by wars.
No! Private armies have a different purpose to state armies. They can help us to develop new military techniques, gather intelligence and create peace in unstable regions.
Keywords
Contract - A legal agreement, either spoken or written. They often relate to jobs or renting homes.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Coup - When an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.
Rebel fighters retreat as Putin licks wounds
Et tu, Brute? The former Putin ally had claimed that 25,000 of his troops would hit Moscow to oust the president. Glossary
Contract - A legal agreement, either spoken or written. They often relate to jobs or renting homes.
Kremlin - A central fortress in a city, used to refer to a complex in Moscow with five palaces and four cathedrals. The Russian government is run from within this citadel.
Coup - When an individual or group takes control of government by illegal means, including by violence.
Civilians - People who are not in the army or the police.