Generolo Jono Žemaičio Lietuvos karo akademija

This paper examines the role of Special Operations Forces (SOF) in countering hybrid threats within democratic states, focusing on the Slovak Republic as a front-line NATO member. Using qualitative historical-comparative analysis and a review of security doctrines, the study demonstrates that SOF enable effective operations below the threshold of open armed conflict. The central hypothesis posits that SOF effectiveness is not independent of democratic governance but fundamentally dependent upon it: public trust, legal accountability, and robust parliamentary oversight are prerequisites for operational legitimacy. The paper identifies the "Democratic Dilemma" – the tension between operational secrecy and democratic transparency – and proposes a "Democratic Hybrid Defence" model in which oversight and effectiveness are mutually reinforcing. The study contributes to the field by explicitly linking SOF capabilities with civilian control mechanisms in a Central European geopolitical context.

The study analyses residential social service facilities as a component of civil defence and the internal stability of a democratic state. Based on a qualitative analysis of international strategic and legal documents and relevant scholarly literature, it demonstrates that continuity of care for vulnerable groups constitutes an important element of national resilience to hybrid and other contemporary threats. Key factors include crisis preparedness, the decision-making capacity of management, intersectoral coordination, and the professional training of staff. The text emphasises the need for their systematic integration into security and crisis planning.