In the science fiction novels of Iain M. Banks, Special Circumstances (SC) comprises the military/espionage arm of the notionally pacifist civilisation The Culture. It forms part of Contact.

Most of Banks' Culture novels concern themselves directly or indirectly with such circumstances.

In Banks's terms, SC is an absolute necessity for the Culture: a society so totally dedicated to the complete satisfaction of all of its members' desires must have a way to justify to itself all the freeriding it enjoys. SC has special concerns with contacts with lower tech civilizations, helping them (never in a straight, honest-to-face way) and resolving difficult conflicts that threaten the Culture way of living.

In times of war, SC becomes especially powerful and fashionable among the Culture, and a SC membership, usually very difficult to obtain, is one of the highest valued things for Culture members.