UID:
almahu_9949384721302882
Format:
1 online resource :
,
text file, PDF
Edition:
First edition.
ISBN:
9781315208114
,
1315208113
,
1351802682
,
9781351802680
,
9781351802673
,
1351802674
Series Statement:
Cass Military Studies
Content:
"This book sets out the major social scientific approaches to the study of Special Operations Forces. Despite consistent downsizing, over the past two decades the armed forces of the industrial democracies have seen a huge growth in Special Operations Forces (SOF). Through increasing numbers of personnel and more frequent deployments, SOF units have wielded considerable influence in conflicts around the world, with senior SOF officers having led major strategic operations. This increased presence and unprecedented expansion for SOF is largely a result of the 'new' kinds of conflicts that have emerged in the 21st century. At the same time, even with this high profile in the military, policy and media and popular cultural arenas, there is relatively little social scientific research on SOF. This volume aims to fill this gap by providing a series of studies and analyses of SOF across the globe, since the end of World War II. Analysing SOF at the micro, mezzo and macro levels provides broad and diverse insights. Moreover, the volume deals with new issues raised by the use of such forces that include emerging modes of civilian control, innovative organizational forms and the special psychological characteristics necessitated by SOF operatives. It concludes with a discussion of a question which continues to be debated in today's militaries: what makes SOF 'special'?Filling a clear gap in the literature, this book will be of much interest to students of strategic studies, civil-military relations, irregular warfare, security studies, and International Relations."--Provided by publisher.
Note:
Cover; Half Title; Title Page; Copyright Page; Table of Contents; List of figures and tables; List of contributors; Acknowledgements; 1 Special operations forces (SOF) and social science: an introductory essay; Part I The emergence of special operations forces; 2 The evolution of SOF and the rise of SOF Power; 3 The special operations forces mosaic: a portrait for discussion; 4 Warrior-diplomats and ungoverned spaces: narratives of possibilities; Part II Civilian control and public imagery.
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5 Special operations forces (SOF) as the "silver bullet": strategic helplessness and weakened institutional and extra-institutional civilian control6 'Unintended acceleration': the problematique of civil-military relations of special operations forces in the American context; Part III Social dynamics, organizational processes and challenges; 7 The 'Seamen's Council': a SOFish way of making decisions; 8 Service cultures and collective military action: successful joint operations by the Israeli Air Force and Special Operations Forces.
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9 Dutch Forward Air Controllers in Uruzgan: aspects of cooperation, courage, responsibility, legitimacy and ... people getting killed10 In search of intelligence: the Dutch Special Forces in Mali; 11 Aiming to punch above their weight: the Belgian Special Forces; 12 Integrating men and women within Naval Special Warfare combat teams; Part IV Innovation, entrepreneurship and the military institution; 13 The self and the mirror: institutional tensions and Canadian Special Operations Forces; 14 Special forces, ethos and technology: the case of Israel's Haruv Reconnaissance Unit.
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15 Organizational entrepreneurship and special forces: the Israeli Helicopter Squadron and the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit (Sayeret Matkal)16 The diffusion of innovation: SOF in Iraq; Part V Psychological perspectives; 17 Profiling the Swedish Ranger: perceptions of motivation, profession and risk and safety issues; 18 The resilience of SOF personnel; Part VI Setting (special) agendas; 19 What is special about special operations forces?; 20 A social scientific agenda for the study of special operations forces; Index.
Additional Edition:
Print version: ISBN 9781315208114
Additional Edition:
ISBN 9781351802680
Language:
English
Keywords:
Electronic books.
;
Electronic books.
;
Case studies.
;
History.
URL:
https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/9781315208114
Bookmarklink
