The Future of European Gendarmerie Organisations in the Light of Hybrid Security Threats

Aimed at students, practitioners and security scholars, this open access book presents creative, multi-faceted and critical perspectives on the future of European gendarmerie-type forces, particularly in the era of hybrid security threats. It reviews international cooperation between gendarmerie organisations and raises the question of whether the traditionally styled gendarmerie organisations are up to the rapidly changing security climate, where non-state armed actors tend to be agile and innovative. Gendarmerie-type forces are military-style police organisations which have evolved over time and are generally responsible for police activities at the higher risk end of the spectrum when it comes to closing sudden as well as structural security gaps. Europe faces several security challenges beyond, at and within its borders, ranging from large-scale organised crime, terrorism and irregular migration. This book explores traditional security actors in Europe, in particular gendarmerie organisations in France, Italy, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain, as well as the (cooperation with) other gendarmerie and law enforcement organisations. It includes co-authored chapters from academics with gendarmerie practitioners. This book argues that within the plural policing arena, gendarmerie organisations occupy a unique position.