82816 - Intelligence and Political Decision Making

Learning outcomes

The course is based on the presumption that intelligence and foreign policy-making are interwoven with each other. Examines the role of intelligence in the strategic decision-making process and formulation of foreign policy in the USA, Western Democracies, Russia, China and leading Middle Eastern powers. Intelligence is analyzed either as governmental institution or a form of activity, with emphasis on complex relations within the triangle: intelligence community – national security planning bodies – top political leadership. Course is based on open and declassified materials. Case studies are integrated as appropriate. No intelligence background is needed or expected.

Course contents

The course examines the role of intelligence in the strategic decision-making process and formulation of foreign and national security policy in the USA, Western democracies, Russia, China and the leading Middle Eastern and Asian powers.

Intelligence is analyzed either as a governmental institution or a form of activity, with emphasis on complex relations within the triangle: intelligence community – national security planning bodies - top political leadership.

Topics include:

Comparative study of the organization and operational practices of the world’s leading intelligence services;

Political leadership and intelligence task setting; data collection techniques;

Overt and covert sources of information and their correlation; clandestine human collection ; technical collection ; analysis and strategic surprise;

Covert action and strategic disinformation;

Intelligence and revolution in information technologies; cyber-security and cyber-intelligence;

Craft and art of counter-intelligence;

Oversight and control over intelligence practices in the democratic societies; coordination and bureaucratic competition within intelligence community;

Intelligence vs current and future transnational challenges:Terrorism; WMD Proliferation; Illegal Migration; International Treaties’ Verification and Sanctions Enforcement; Narcotics Trafficking.

Analysis of case studies integrated as appropriate.

Readings/Bibliography

Silent Warfare: Understanding the World of Intelligence, by Abram Shulsky and Gary Schmitt

Additional readings will be added to the announced workload as necessary.

Assessment methods

Substantial paper (15 pages) and final oral exam.

Topics must be chosen in consultation with the instructor.

The final grade will be based on the combined assessment of the constructive class participation, oral exam and the essay.

Office hours

See the website of Albert Bininachvili