Special Operations from a Small State Perspective - (New Security Challenges) by Gunilla Eriksson & Ulrica Pettersson (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

"Over the past dozen years special operations forces (SOF) have been one of the few areas of growth and expansion in a number of militaries. This growth and expansion, however, has not been mirrored by a comparable one in academic inquiries into the subject. Special Operations from a Small State Perspective - Future Security Challenges, which contains a wide range of perspectives from both practitioners and academics, makes a unique contribution to the literature and offers fascinating insights into the opportunities provided by and challenges confronting small states such as Swedenin their evolutionary development and use of SOF."

Dr James Kiras, Associate Professor, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, The Air University,

Alabama, USA.

From the Back Cover

This book offers different perspectives on the utilization and development of special operations forces (SOF) in small states. Across the chapters, the authors argue that small states can use and develop this very unique capability both at a tactical and operational level, but also as a strategic instrument in the modern complex security environment. The study finds that SOF in small states has a new role to play and that it needs to become a more agile and flexible force, ready to address future security challenges. A reorientation in favour of SOF from a small state perspective is crucial both due to the changing security situation in Europe, and the need to economise military resources.

"This edited volume offers different perspectives on the utilization and development of special operations forces (SOF) in small states. Across the chapters, the authors argue that small states can develop and use this very unique capability at all level of engagement, and as a strategic instrument, in the modern complex security environment. The study finds that SOF in small states has both unique roles and limitations in addressing the range of security challenges. After reading this work, small state leaders may choose to reorient force structure in favour of SOF due to the changing security situation in Europe and the need to economise military resources."

Dr James Kiras, Associate Professor, School of Advanced Air and Space Studies, The Air University, Alabama, USA.

About the Author

Dr Pettersson is a researcher at the Swedish National Defence University, employed by the Swedish Armed Forces since 2000. She holds a PhD in Risk Management and Safety Engineer. Her research is concerned with SOF, Lessons Learned and specially focused on military international missions.

Dr Eriksson has a PhD in Political Science and currently holds a Post-Doc position at the Swedish National Defence University at the Department of War Studies. Gunilla presented her PhD - The Intelligence Discourse - in 2013. Prior to that, she has been an intelligence analyst at the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service for 6 years.