Usually, to apply force to any physical entity we need to interact with it; for example, we can't move a ball without hitting it. However, there are non interactive forces like fundamental fields which may apply force to an entity without physical interactions; i.e. gravity can move a mass without physically touching it. Similarly electric fields can move charges without interacting with them. If we look at this issue from the perspective of particle physics, there may not be any difference between interactive and non-interactive fields. Discussion and clarifications are solicited from the experts.
There is a difference between fields and forces.
Fields are intensity gradients mathematically representing the strength of a force at any given distance from a charged electromagnetic particle such as an electron.
The known forces at the level of particle physics are the Coulomb force, which causes electrically charged electromagnetic particles to interact as a function of the inverse square of the distance between them.
There is also the magnetic force which causes the same electromagnetic particles to interact as a function of the inverse cube of the distance between them. The magnetic aspect of particles is related to the relative spin orientation of particles.
The Coulomb force is largely documented and you can find complete descriptions in undergrad textbooks such as "Physics" by Halliday and Resnick or "University Physics" by Sears, Zemansky and Young.
The inverse cube force however is little documented, but was proven to be inaction between electrons as recently as 2014:
http://www.nature.com/articles/nature13403.epdf?referrer_access_token=yoC6RXrPyxwvQviChYrG0tRgN0jAjWel9jnR3ZoTv0PdPJ4geER1fKVR1YXH8GThqECstdb6e48mZm0qQo2OMX_XYURkzBSUZCrxM8VipvnG8FofxB39P4lc-1UIKEO1
There is no such thing as interactive forces and non-interactive forces.
When you push a ball with the hand, there is matter acting on matter.
In a nucleus, the interaction between nucleons (which keeps the nucleons together in a nucleus) is done by the exchange of particles named pi mesons.
Every force in the nature is realized by matter acting on matter. Between two electric charges exists an electric field whose density of energy is proportional with |E|2. When the charges move toward one another because of the electric field between them, the electric field looses energy to the charges (this energy transforms into kinetic energy of the bodies carying the charges).
There is no force in the nature that acts without direct interaction of matter upon matter.
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