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The Rise and Fall of Intelligence: An International Security History
A century ago, almost any state could be competitive at espionage. Fifty years ago, only the Cold War alliances clustered around the two superpowers could. Today, however, many states can do so once again, and private entities and even individuals can gather secrets and manipulate events around the globe. The skills and technology needed to "do" intelligence have diffused around the world and across societies; they can literally be purchased on-line. The problems caused by this spread of intelligence now reach beyond the security services to corporate offices and private homes. This book is a sweeping history of the development of professional, institutionalized intelligence as well as a look at the implications of fall of the state monopoly going forward.
The book is oriented toward U.S. intelligence, but the early chapters address the birth of professional intelligence in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. Throughout, there is an emphasis on technological advancement as a driver of intelligence, both in terms of creating a need for intelligence and counterintelligence and in terms of improving its techniques.
The book is oriented toward U.S. intelligence, but the early chapters address the birth of professional intelligence in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century. Throughout, there is an emphasis on technological advancement as a driver of intelligence, both in terms of creating a need for intelligence and counterintelligence and in terms of improving its techniques.
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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July 10, 2014Michael Warner, PhD’90
Author
From our pages, July–Aug/14: "As a historian for the US Department of Defense, Michael Warner has an inside perspective on state espionage. Also a former historian for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he details the evolution of information gathering from its emergence around 2000 BC through world wars, cold wars, and into the present day. Warner ends with a forward-looking analysis of intelligence in the Internet age, a new world where 'privacy can be erased.'"
Author
From our pages, July–Aug/14: "As a historian for the US Department of Defense, Michael Warner has an inside perspective on state espionage. Also a former historian for the Central Intelligence Agency and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, he details the evolution of information gathering from its emergence around 2000 BC through world wars, cold wars, and into the present day. Warner ends with a forward-looking analysis of intelligence in the Internet age, a new world where 'privacy can be erased.'"
June 11, 2023
In his sweeping history of the development of professional, institutionalized intelligence,
The Rise and Fall of Intelligence: An International Security History
, the author, Michael Warner, examines the implications of the fall of the state monopoly on espionage today and beyond.
This is no surprise because the age-old glamour and esotericism of intelligence and espionage is slowly being washed away by technology. During the Cold War, only the alliances clustered around the two superpowers maintained viable intelligence endeavours, whereas a century ago, many states could aspire to be competitive at these dark arts. Today, larger states have lost their monopoly on intelligence skills and capabilities as technological and sociopolitical changes have made it possible for private organizations and even individuals to unearth secrets and influence global events.
Since the birth of professional intelligence in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century and the subsequent rise of US intelligence during the Cold War, new intelligence techniques and tradecraft have emerged, for example, the use of the Internet and social media in investigations as portrayed in War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century by David Patrikarakos. The history of present-day intelligence shows a struggle against terrorism and the digital revolution to improve capabilities in the 2000s. Throughout, the book examines how states and other entities use intelligence to create, exploit, and protect secret advantages against others, and emphasizes how technological advancement and ideological competition drive intelligence, improving its techniques and creating a need for intelligence and counterintelligence activities to serve and protect policymakers and commanders.
The world changes intelligence and intelligence changes the world. This sweeping history of espionage and intelligence will be welcomed by practitioners, students, and scholars of security studies, international affairs, and intelligence, as well as general audiences interested in the evolution of espionage and technology. This is an excellent piece of literature to show that states face a great challenge to ensuring national security and holding the fabric as tight as it ought to be.
This is no surprise because the age-old glamour and esotericism of intelligence and espionage is slowly being washed away by technology. During the Cold War, only the alliances clustered around the two superpowers maintained viable intelligence endeavours, whereas a century ago, many states could aspire to be competitive at these dark arts. Today, larger states have lost their monopoly on intelligence skills and capabilities as technological and sociopolitical changes have made it possible for private organizations and even individuals to unearth secrets and influence global events.
Since the birth of professional intelligence in Europe at the beginning of the twentieth century and the subsequent rise of US intelligence during the Cold War, new intelligence techniques and tradecraft have emerged, for example, the use of the Internet and social media in investigations as portrayed in War in 140 Characters: How Social Media Is Reshaping Conflict in the Twenty-First Century by David Patrikarakos. The history of present-day intelligence shows a struggle against terrorism and the digital revolution to improve capabilities in the 2000s. Throughout, the book examines how states and other entities use intelligence to create, exploit, and protect secret advantages against others, and emphasizes how technological advancement and ideological competition drive intelligence, improving its techniques and creating a need for intelligence and counterintelligence activities to serve and protect policymakers and commanders.
The world changes intelligence and intelligence changes the world. This sweeping history of espionage and intelligence will be welcomed by practitioners, students, and scholars of security studies, international affairs, and intelligence, as well as general audiences interested in the evolution of espionage and technology. This is an excellent piece of literature to show that states face a great challenge to ensuring national security and holding the fabric as tight as it ought to be.
April 28, 2015
This book is really comprehensive about the history of intelligence and the potential future of intelligence. I really like the fact that he is a very good writer, and that he's very detailed and specific and all his facts, related stories, and periods that go along with them. We're using this as a book in my international security class and it has been my favorite so far. I recommend this book to anyone interested in international security, code breaking, intelligence, or cyber security.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews