Handbook

Contemporary armed conflicts have demonstrated a contest between state and non-state actors for legitimacy and influence with a target population. Such conflict is the definition of irregular warfare, yet this type of warfare is not well addressed within academia. Within these conflicts, the employment of special operations forces has been seen on an unprecedented scale, yet special operations also remains an understudied and often misunderstood instrument of military policy. The Master of Special Operations and Irregular Warfare uniquely addresses this gap by offering students a combination of special operations focused core courses, irregular warfare focused core courses and a selection of electives addressing broader issues in strategy and security. This combination provides the student both a focused view of the phenomenon of special operations and irregular warfare and a broad understanding of their context. The Master of Special Operations and Irregular Warfare is ideal for military personnel seeking to broaden their understanding of those forms of warfare that exist to challenge conventionally-orientated militaries. The program also provides an excellent framework of reference for other government employees and contractors who require a good understanding of Special Operations and Irregular threats. Postgraduate scholars seeking to develop a research competence in this field will also find in the Master of Special Operations and Irregular Warfare a valuable foundation.