Special (peace) operations: Optimizing SOF for UN missions

Abstract

Since the release of the 2015 United Nations Peacekeeping Missions Military Special Forces Manual, there has been surprisingly little scholarly attention devoted to it. Indeed, much of the recent literature on the topic of special operations forces (SOF) is descriptive, sensationalized, or simply boosting the image of SOF as the proverbial “easy button” for decision-makers. This article seeks to critically engage with the 2015 United Nations manual on SOF through the framework of specialized generalists, boundary spanning, and military autonomy. 1 This paper will then continue the argument that SOF has a role in peace operations, albeit a limited one. Finally, it will conclude with some recommendations for how these findings can inform Canada’s employment of SOF in the future. Indeed, given that Canada is a relative newcomer to the “global SOF network,” 2 such critical inquiry is warranted.