ABSTRACT
The special operations forces (SOF) of the United States are marked by considerable diversity, such units in other countries bear noteworthy similarity in some key features. This chapter suggests that a fruitful way to set out a social scientific agenda for the study of SOF is to posit a Weberian ideal type of such units. The issues around SOF that have received most of the attention of social scientists – especially psychologists and social psychologists – involves the selection, motivation, and socialization of individual operators, and the small-group dynamics of SOF units. The chapter moves from the micro level, on to the mezzo level of the military organization, and through to the macro level of analysis. In Israel one finds endless media reports about the hundreds who try out for SOF through grueling pre-military try-outs. In terms of a research agenda while researchers know a quite a lot about work between Western SOF and indigenous forces.
