Handbook of Intelligence Studies

by Loch K. Johnson (Editor)

This topical volume offers a comprehensive review of secret intelligence organizations and activities.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction

480 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 12, 2006

Reviews

[Mihai Zodian · Rating 4 out of 5]

When teaching strategic studies, one is sometimes faced with issues related to espionage. This happens because the use of force and actionable information are connected, but not in a simplistic manner, as any reader of Carl von Clausewitz can attest. A question arises: how can one study scientifically an object about which there is no reliable public information and data? Edited by Lock K. Johnson, The Handbook of Intelligence Studies tries to find reasonable answers, and I recommend it to anyone interested in defending democratic values in our troubled times.

The topics are data collection and interpretation and operation, with a normative focus. The scope is diverse, from general ideas about data and information to more technical details. A special section in The Handbook of Intelligence Studies is dedicated to questions of intelligence failures and democratic accountability. The readers may focus on these issues, since discussions about them are important and almost unknown in countries like Romania, where the public oscillates between naivete and paranoia.

The authors argue that intelligence studies are easier to practice on democracies, especially the United States. The pluralistic social values and the critical attitude towards public organizations make research more feasible. Therefore, in The Handbook of Intelligence Studies, there are chapters about the FBI, technical espionage, and the Cold War. The perspective is neutral and as factual as the subject allows it.

The authors also think that the adoption of modern scientific practices will help to achieve better information. For example, several well-known intelligence blunders were made worse by prejudices and by the temptation to please the power holders. A lot of space in The Handbook of Intelligence Studies is allocated to the discussions about 9/11 and the justification for the war in Iraq. They are interesting even today, when one sees similar debates about Israel and Iran.

There are two obvious critiques of the approach followed in The Handbook of Intelligence Studies. First, organizations working in the shadows can be difficult to control democratically. The second is that, even if this is not the case, there isn't much to study, anyway. The answer is similar to the one offered by Philip Tetlock to Nassim Taleb about Black Swans: even under conditions of high uncertainty, we still need to find reasonable ways to deal with public issues.

[Jim Garrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is solid. I referenced it many times in school papers and in later academia. I especially love the chapter on ethics. I encourage readers to carefully read the dilemma that the intelligence community faced during the lead up to the Iraq War.

[Ayushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Well worth multiple reads.

[Randi Buros · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of concepts and issues related to strategic intelligence. Recommend reading prior to studying at any of the military service schools (tactical intel) for a solid contextual basis.

[Wahyudi]

Mantap dan lengkap bener buku ini...:)