The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels

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Deane-Peter Baker (University of New South Wales, Canberra) Roger Herbert (United States Naval Academy, Maryland)

The Ethics of Special Ops

Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels

Deane-Peter Baker (University of New South Wales, Canberra), Roger Herbert (United States Naval Academy, Maryland), David Whetham (King's College London)

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English

Cambridge University Press
30 November 2023

Military history; Philosophy; Ethics & moral philosophy; International humanitarian law

The field of military ethics has generally been attentive to emerging trends in modern warfare. Cyber, robotics and AI, for example, have inspired an abundant and flourishing literature. One trend, however, has been largely overlooked: the emergence of special operations as a prominent instrument of statecraft. Drawing extensively on historical cases and first-hand experience, the authors of this book call attention to qualities inherent in special operations – and special operators – that challenge the moral framework which has long informed conventional military operations. Moral theorists will find this analysis provocative, while practitioners – those who conduct or oversee special operations and have an interest in the moral wellbeing of special operators – can put the authors' insights to practical use. Those who simply view with fascination the opaque world of special operations will find this book illuminating.

By: Deane-Peter Baker (University of New South Wales Canberra), Roger Herbert (United States Naval Academy, Maryland), David Whetham (King's College London)
Imprint: Cambridge University Press
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions: Height: 235mm, Width: 160mm, Spine: 18mm
Weight: 510g
ISBN: 9781009292054
ISBN 10: 1009292056
Pages: 255
Publication Date: 30 November 2023
Audience: General/trade , ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active

1. Introduction; 2. Raids; 3. Recoveries; 4. Reconnaissance; 5. Rebels; 6. Not quite war: special operations and the Jus ad bellum convention; 7. Ethical armouring for special operations forces; Index.

Deane-Peter Baker is an Associate Professor in the School of Humanities and Social Science at UNSW Canberra, and a Senior Visiting Research Fellow in the Kings College London Centre for Military Ethics. He is a regular consultant on ethics to Australia's Special Operations Command. Following a 26-year career as a US Naval Special Warfare Officer, Roger Herbert joined the faculty of the US Naval Academy, where he served until 2021 as the Robert T. Herres Distinguished Military Professor of Ethics. He is a Research Fellow with the Arizona State University Future Security Initiative. David Whetham is Professor of Ethics and the Military Profession at King's College London, based at the Defence Academy of the UK, and Visiting Professorial Fellow at UNSW Canberra. In 2020, he was appointed Assistant Inspector General of the Australian Defence Force, contributing to the Afghanistan Inquiry into allegations of war crimes committed by SOF personnel.

Reviews for The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels

'This is a must-read book for anyone with an interest in the interplay of ethics, politics and military action in that diplomatic space before war breaks out. The conclusions are nuanced, well-argued and will provide many talking points for those who want to deal seriously with the moral dilemmas faced by governments and the Special Operators they send out into the murky darkness.' Peter Lee, University of Portsmouth