Intelligence and Politics : An Introduction

The 9/11 attacks, the public furores over intelligence following the invasion of Iraq in 2003, and a succession of highly publicized inquiries on both of sides of the Atlantic, have served to amplify a rapidly growing interest in Intelligence Studies. Subsequent terrorist attacks in Britain, Spain and Indonesia, and emerging international tensions over nuclear proliferation and the so-called ‘war on terror’ drive a continued and ever growing interest in the subject. This book is the first introduction to the key concepts and issues in intelligence for students. It covers general ideas, methods, problems and debates in the field, and takes a global perspective, using examples from a range of national intelligence systems. The book is divided into three key areas: intelligence itself, the role of intelligence in government, and political issues and debates surrounding intelligence. It will be essential reading for students of intelligence studies, and recommended reading for students of US politics, security/strategic studies and foreign policy.