Libya and Iraq exhibit some striking parallels with regard to state formation after the demise of their former regimes, and yet they have rarely been considered alongside each other. In both states, the state security apparatus collapsed or was dismantled, and a fundamentally new security landscape emerged. In neither country was any single actor able to re-centralise authority. Instead, competition between rival groups came to characterise this new security landscape. Such competition was closely linked to the struggle for control over state institutions, which offer access to spectacular wealth. In both states, this makes it difficult to distinguish between the domains of politics, the economy and security. Relevant actors straddle all three spheres; in neither state is there a distinct «security sector». This collection of articles offers perspectives on patterns of competition over coercion and predation in both countries.