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TACTICAL THOUGHT
2014 September 29 th
The very obvious difference in strategic and operational culture is discussed, but not
regarding the status of tactical culture and preferences. 46 However, the importance of
the tactical development is stated as “central to any account of European military
development”. 47 The research is an interesting work on operational and tactical
capabilities that clearly relates to strategic and operational culture with possible frictions
as grounds for development. King puts it; ”the three major military powers in Europe
demonstrate profoundly different profession culture and strategic orientations which
obstruct their cooperation. Of course, these differences are multiplied if other European
forces are considered”. However, such a consideration of possible differences in tactical
culture and standpoints is not a part of King’s work. Such knowledge is, as said before,
argued important, especially in relation to the view of King regarding a development of
a growing transnational horizontal collaboration at lower levels. Relational structures of
some nations’ homogenous or heterogeneous tactical thought will obviously provide
different transnational thought and standpoint structures.
Turning to research in Sweden on Irregular Warfare, and in particular tactical
preferences in such conflicts, it has not been a substantial part of the officer education
supported by War Studies research before 2008. Nils Marius Rekkedal, working as a
professor in War Studies at the Swedish National Defence College (2002-2008),
introduced the subject on a broader scale later on. Still, it was not until 2008, a year
after the publication of the U.S. Field Manual 3-24 Counterinsurgency, that a change in
the officer education syllabus was decided upon, with the introduction of a 5-week
course in Irregular Warfare for the basic officer course. Subsequently, in 2010, a course
in contemporary operations was devoted fully to Joint Counterinsurgency operations.
Moreover, work with a summary of military thought on war and warfare, for officer
education, as well as support to doctrinal work, resulted in Jerker Widén’s and Jan
Ångström’s book Militärteorins Grunder (2005), containing descriptions of “theories
on ground operations in “Small Wars”. 48 Here, a summary of Irregular Warfare and
Counterinsurgency theories is included. Rekkedal´s previously mentioned Winds of
Change (2012) includes a description of Swedish military views and preferences in
general on Irregular Warfare, with notably historical traditions of ranger warfare, as
well as with the overarching and strong Regular Warfare mind-set and priority. 49
“In general, the current debate on the whole in Sweden regarding military activities
cannot be said to involve any substantial discussions and thinking concerning Irregular
Warfare. Some examples of thinking can be found in the Royal Academy of War Science
Proceedings. 50 In addition, the subject has been viewed with more interest in the theses
46 King, The Transformation of Europe's Armed Forces: from the Rhine to Afghanistan (2011), pp. 256,
274 and 281.
47 Ibid. p. 149.
48 Jerker Widén & Jan Ångström, Militärteorins Grunder (Stockholm, Försvarshögskolan, 2005), pp.
194-208. A revisited version in English is to be published; Contemporary Military Theory – The
Dynamics of War (Oxon; Routledge, 2015).
49 Rekkedal et al., Winds of Changes (2012), pp. 402-405; Gustafson; ´A Swedish view on Irregular
Warfare´.
50 Michael Gustafson. ´Irregular Warfare and Counterinsurgency, Modern Irregular Warfare and
Counterinsurgency, Perspectives on War Studies and Irregular Warfare´, Särtryck ur Kungl
Krigsvetenskapsakademiens Handlingar och Tidskrift, 5. häftet, 2008, 1. och 2. häftet 2009.
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