From leading combat units to leading combat formations: Modularity, loose systems and temporariness

Eyal Ben-Ari*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

What does command look like in mission formations, those temporary, often ad hoc, military configurations established for a specific mission (Introduction, this volume)? In this chapter, I chart out the main characteristics of such command at the tactical level. My work follows King’s (2019) masterful analysis of contemporary divisions; he suggests that, in the 21st century, the command includes the executive role of making decisions, the managerial function of coordinating components to achieve the most effective results and the leadership part, centering on creating a common purpose and motivation. As my empirical exemplification I will use two documentary volumes published by the Swedish Centre for Studies of Armed Forces and Society (Tillberg & Tillberg, 2013; Tillberg et al., 2017). The two books consist of excerpts from interviews and conversations with officers and troops from the Swedish armed forces who had been posted abroad around the world since the 1990s. I use these sources both because they are rich in information and insights and because the missions that Sweden participated in fall squarely within the “New” or “Hybrid” Wars of the 21st century (Hoffman, 2007; Kaldor, 2001; Munkler, 2005). To be clear, however, I use these qualitative data sets to think through and illustrate my wider argument about tactical military command today.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationMilitary Mission Formations and Hybrid Wars
Subtitle of host publicationNew Sociological Perspectives
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages91-103
Number of pages13
ISBN (Electronic)9781000207484
ISBN (Print)9780367427153
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 selection and editorial matter, Thomas Vladimir Brønd, Uzi Ben-Shalom and Eyal Ben-Ari; individual chapters, the contributors.

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