The PSD collects data on the use of Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs) by public actors (governments and international organisations) in areas of limited statehood, and asks in general who consumed what kind of private security in failing states (where, for how long). The data are focused on a specific set of countries that experienced state failure or even collapse in at least one year in the period 1990–2007.

The project was initiated and implemented under the umbrella of the research project "Privatization and Commercialization of Security", which is part of the Collaborative Research Center Berlin.

The project greatfully acknowledges financial support by the German Science Foundation / Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG).