Zeitschrift für Kunst- und Sozialwissenschaften

A Partner Perspective on the Evolution of the Global Special Operations Forces Enterprise

Abstract

Asbjørn Lysgård and Ole Boe

The purpose of this article is to provide a perspective on the evolution of the Global Special Operations Forces Enterprise as seen from a partner perspective. The article starts with a review of the historical antecedents of Special Operations Forces since the second world war and the development of the Norwegian Special Operations Forces until today. The article then continues with a discussion of the development of the Global Special Operations Forces Network. The construction of a Special Operations Forces network and the operationalization of the Global Special Operations Forces Network is then discussed. Steps that were taken to maintain the imitative and the challenges of creating a coalition to participate in Operation Inherent Resolve is then discussed. Some conclusions regarding the coalition of the willing in relation to the Global Special Operations Forces Network are drawn, and challenges related to this is then discussed. A recommendation in view of the revealed challenges is that a beneficial step for the Global Special Operations Forces Network would be to define the organizational structure and clearly articulate it for operations at all levels.