ABSTRACT
Canada's special operations forces (SOF) have seen a significant growth since the events of 9/11 and Canada's participation in the Afghan conflict. The very institutional dynamics that allow SOF to be effective also undermine their institutional legitimacy within the armed forces. At the cognitive level, secrecy as a tool of force protection and access to higher levels for force effectiveness is a powerful institutional argument. Military organizations have also been studied through the lens of institutional analysis since the early days of the establishment of military sociology as a sub-field. The Canadian military is even more vague with the general public about the functions and activities of Canadian SOF Command. Regarding regulative aspects, one main source of concern emerged from the papers. It is about the separate nature of the structural arrangements of SOF. At some unconscious level, it seems that some elements of elitism still inform the normative internal legitimacy of SOF members.
