{"id":27787,"date":"2017-12-27T15:06:12","date_gmt":"2017-12-27T15:06:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/27\/elite-warriors-a-refreshingly-eastern-perspective-on-special-forces\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:12:31","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:12:31","slug":"elite-warriors-a-refreshingly-eastern-perspective-on-special-forces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/commentary\/2017\/12\/27\/elite-warriors-a-refreshingly-eastern-perspective-on-special-forces\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Elite Warriors\u2019: A refreshingly Eastern perspective on special forces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MOSCOW \u2014 Advocates of nuclear weapons like to play up their peacekeeping utility. Often they will point out that there has not been a major war between great powers since the end of World War II. But as history has shown, conflict remains a regular facet of international relations. Only the means of conflict have changed; and since the 1980s, this process has accelerated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A new book authored by experts from the Moscow-based Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies, or CAST, titled \u201cElite Warriors: Special Operations Forces From Around the World<\/a>,\u201d explores one of these key changing aspects of modern war: the proliferation of special operations forces by major and minor powers across the globe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Printed by American publisher East View Press and edited by CAST founder Ruslan Pukhov<\/a> and Christopher Marsh, editor of the Special Operations Journal and a professor at the U.S. Army School of Advanced Military Studies, \u201cElite Warriors\u201d claims to fill an important gap in the academic literature on special operations forces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cElite Warriors\u201d represents one of CAST\u2019s broadest analytical efforts to date and one of the first such studies dedicated to special operations forces. Previously, CAST\u2019s outfit of military and political analysts in Russia have focused on single-issue topics, as seen in their book \u201cBrothers Armed: Military Aspects of the Crisis in Ukraine,\u201d as well as the China-focused \u201cRed Star Rising.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cElite Warriors: Special Operations Forces From Around the World\u201d is available in English from East View Press. (East View Press)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It is overall a quick read, structured into 14 standalone chapters focusing on different special forces outfits from different nations \u2014 though it breaks format to present Russian efforts to develop and field such units into two chapters. While Elite Warriors may lack a broader narrative, it is useful as a reference book to support further academic works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each chapter offers accessible breakdowns on the histories, organizational structures and capabilities of the world\u2019s leading special operations forces. The book features pieces by some of CAST\u2019s most capable analysts. These include entries focusing on Chinese, Israeli, Turkish, Iranian and even a chapter on Polish special forces units authored by Pukhov himself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As Marsh notes in his introduction to the book, the topic of special forces units warrants further study as a capability that \u201cmost states are developing, many states have, and all states covet.\u201d In an attempt to provide a framework to the study, Marsh leans briefly on prominent theories in the realist school of international relations that deal with proliferation of military capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help frame the study, Marsh cites the scholar Kenneth Waltz, who theorized that \u201cstates tend to emulate the successful policies of others.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of particular interest to American readers, given CAST\u2019s status as a leading Russian military affairs think tank, are the two chapters detailing the development of modern Russian special operations forces. Russia\u2019s development of its modern special operations forces is a key example of states mimicking the development of U.S. special forces since the 1980s.<\/p>\n\n\n\t