Bringing Special Operations Research Into the Open
Special Operations Research: Out of the Shadows marked an important moment in the development of special operations scholarship. Published in the inaugural issue of Special Operations Journal (SOJ), which later evolved into Inter Populum: The Journal of Irregular Warfare and Special Operations, Christopher Marsh, James Kiras, and Patricia Blocksome’s article argued that special operations research remained underdeveloped despite the growing strategic importance of SOF around the world. 11 years have passed since the writing of this piece and the SOF and IW community have made incredible strides to fill this gap, though there is always room for improvement. Dr. Marsh and Dr. Kiras are the Editors-in-Chief at Inter Populum, along with Dr. Ryan Shaw of Arizona State University.
The Gap Between Operational Relevance and Academic Study
The authors identify a central problem early in the piece. Special operations had expanded rapidly across the international system following the creation of USSOCOM and the post-Cold War rise of elite military units, yet academic research on SOF remained fragmented and narrow in scope; existing literature often centered on memoirs, unit histories, or isolated mission studies rather than broader theoretical or interdisciplinary inquiry. The article frames this gap as both an academic and operational problem. The authors argue that special operations planning, strategy, and policymaking benefit from rigorous historical and social science research that extends beyond institutional or doctrinal boundaries.
Building a Research Community for Special Operations
A major contribution of the article is its call for a dedicated research community focused on special operations. Marsh, Kiras, and Blocksome explain that the creation of SOJ was intended to provide a peer-reviewed forum where scholars, practitioners, military professionals, and policymakers could exchange ideas and develop a more mature body of research. They place particular emphasis on interdisciplinary scholarship and argue that the field should incorporate history, political science, sociology, anthropology, and related disciplines rather than relying solely on military analysis.
Defining Special Operations Across Different Contexts
The article also raises an important definitional issue that continues to shape special operations studies today. The authors note that there is no universally accepted framework for defining special operations or special operations forces across different national contexts.
They caution against restricting the field to U.S. doctrinal definitions and instead encourage researchers to examine how states conceptualize and employ special units differently across political systems and historical periods. Their discussion of Chinese special forces illustrates this point and reinforces the need for comparative and globally informed scholarship.
The Debate Over Theory
Another key theme is the debate over theory. The article surveys ongoing disagreements within the emerging field regarding whether special operations requires its own distinct theory or whether existing strategic and military theories are sufficient.
The authors reference debates within the Special Operations Research Association over the role theory should play in shaping the field. Rather than resolving the issue, the article presents the debate itself as evidence that special operations studies had entered a formative stage of intellectual development.
Research Priorities for the Field
The piece concludes by outlining several areas the authors believed required sustained research attention. These include historical case studies, cross-national comparisons of SOF organizations, the global diffusion of special operations capabilities, doctrine development, strategic effectiveness, and the relationship between SOF and national policy. The article also highlights concerns over the strategic utility of SOF following Iraq and Afghanistan, particularly the disconnect between tactical success and broader political outcomes.
Why the Article Still Matters
Viewed today, Special Operations Research: Out of the Shadows reads as both a founding statement and a research agenda for the field. Its significance lies its assessment of the state of SOF scholarship in 2015 and its effort to institutionalize special operations studies as a serious area of academic and professional inquiry. Arizona State University is honored to continue this mission. Visit the Special Operations Journal archives and Inter Populum: The Journal of Irregular Warfare and Special Operations.