USA:
In reply to Germany (msg # 81):
We have noted, with growing concern, the roll that some corporations are currently taking on as Quasi-state entities - the possibility of setting up off world out of any governmental oversight or regulation should be a concern.
We must establish the preeminence of the Nation state above the corporate entity.
The USA would therefor like to propose that the nations of the world come together and agree an international treaty that would prevent corporations forming their own nations or settlements
In essence - I'm proposing we prevent the spread of non state NPC settlements and trying to limit the growth of non state NPCs in game terms - particularly in their military growth (since some corporations now have what amounts to their own army)
There are several ways this could be done - signatories making it illegal for their citizens to deal with companies who are or who deal with companies that operate outside of international laws/oversight, or something similar - that I can leave to bureaucrats in game.
Do players agree with the in game idea though, of preventing non state NPCs from setting up settlements?
Germany aplauds this initiative to limit the powers of private companies, but we're afraid this goal can be easily corrupted.
Does that mean that a corporation must first "adquire" a country to be able to develop its own settlements?
We're sure some could, either militarly or economically do it (and in not few cases the people of the target country may even improve their living conditions on it).
Right now there are already zones where corporations are more powerful tan the staes by using PMCs as their armies (INI in Cyrinaica, Tata group in Suez...)
If we want to limit their power, other steps must be taken:
- to avoid the existence of failing states that can be economically taken by them, and that means improving the living conditions in most of the world.
- to stabilize the wost spots of the world
- to avoid fiscal paradises, where the companies may covertly rule the countries
- to call the PMCs as they are: merecenaries, and so forbid them.
In German's opinion, this last point is critical. Military forces must be state owned and controled and formed (at least mostly) by the contries own nationals (if a country wants to have a small part formed by others, as the French
Légion Étrangère or the Spanish
Legión, that's fine, but only as small parts). Otherwise, the companies would son be more powerful than states, even military.
When Germany claimed against PMCs (morsly naval ones) being allowed to freely act, we were left alone, now you seem to see its danger, and Germany will beglad to help forbiding them as mercenary companies (or privaters in the sea.