Leiden University Student Repository

Bebber, Teun van (2021)

Demystifying Special Operations Forces: An evaluation of Special Operations Forces (SOF) theory’s ability to capture SOF’s nature and strategic value

Master thesis | International Relations (MA)

Since 9/11, U.S. administrations have increasingly relied on Special Operations Forces (SOF) to counter irregular threats such as terrorism. Although the actual employment of SOF has increased, the academic debate on the nature and value of SOF has lagged. Since the 1990s, multiple theories on SOF have been published, yet there remains much disagreement amongst scholars about which core characteristics SOF theory should have. This thesis provides an overview of this debate on SOF theory. Subsequently, it evaluates which theory - or type of theory - is best able to capture the nature of SOF.

SOF

Special Operations Forces

Theory

Strategy

Author

Bebber, Teun van

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Global conflict in the modern era

Supervisors

Milevski, L.

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en