Special Forum on intelligence and theory
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Date
2024-03-19
Open Access Location
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Taylor and Francis Group
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(c) 2024 The Author/s
CC BY 4.0
CC BY 4.0
Abstract
The literature on intelligence and theory has developed considerably in recent years. This Special Forum takes as its point of departure four recent publications that have made a particular contribution to the developing literature and build on earlier contributions, such as the 2009 volume Intelligence Theory: Key Questions and Debates and, the 2018 special issue of Intelligence and National Security on ‘Developing Intelligence Theory: New Challenges and Competing Perspectives’.Footnote1 Since then, Intelligence Studies has seen a further growth of theoretical contributions that explore new approaches and directions. Various research agendas have been proposed, emphasizing the need for pluralistic evidence-based intelligence research, or introducing labels such as a new Philosophy of Intelligence (PHILINT), Critical Intelligence Studies (CIS) or New Intelligence Studies (NIS). At the same time, (meta)theoretical skepticism remains among some intelligence scholars and practitioners, with questions about the innovativeness or need to articulate subfields or schools of thought.Footnote2
This Forum arises from debates at panels of the Intelligence Studies Section of the International Studies Association (ISA) at the 2023 ISA annual conference.Footnote3 A range of scholars studying intelligence were invited by the editor, Peter de Werd, to share their views in autonomous statements. They were asked what they see as the most important issue(s), trend, challenge or controversy in intelligence research. Although the format does not allow for in depth elaborations, it is particularly valuable in providing an overview of contemporary academic perspectives and their interpretations. Bringing these together, comparing and contrasting them, contributes to mapping the field and hence can further a constructive academic debate. As a means to channel the discussion – recognizing the shortcoming of any selection – this Forum is organized around four different collective initiatives that have appeared since 2018.
The first of these, Researching National Security Intelligence: Multidisciplinary Approaches (2019) advocates a pluralistic approach to intelligence research.Footnote4 This initiative recognizes the challenge of gaining access to the world of intelligence and makes the case for research and practice to mutually inform and have impact. The focus is on relevant approaches and practices to collect data, such as interviewing, structured behavioral observation, and ethnography, adding to a ‘conceptual, empirical, an methodological toolkit’ for evidence-based research.Footnote5 The book explores how Political Science, Public Administration and Organization Theory, Communication Studies and Cognitive Psychology can inform a future research agenda in Intelligence Studies. In particular (ethical) academic challenges for grasping insider experiences are discussed; dealing with confidentiality and cooperating with governments or possibly investigative journalists.
Perhaps in contrast, the second of these, the Intelligence and National Security special issue, ‘Integrating Intelligence Theory with Philosophy’ (2022), seeks to challenge the ‘anti-philosophical atmosphere’ and reductive caricature of Philosophy in Intelligence Studies.Footnote6 It is problematic, for example, that ‘“normative” approaches like Philosophy are contrasted with “empirical” approaches, and have been claimed to be unhelpful to practitioners at best, and harmful as a source of politicization and perplexity at worst’.Footnote7 Exemplifying the merit of a philosophical approach, the idea of objectivity is diversified, and the concept of justified true belief for intelligence analysis is explored as ideal.Footnote8 Apart from ontology and epistemology, the importance of axiology – the study of value, ethics and aesthetics – is explicitly recognized. It is argued that value theory provides new ways to reconcile some tensions between collective security and individual rights or to appreciate the intrinsic moral value of intelligence analysis irrespective of its impact.Footnote9 The collection of articles seeks to instantiate the (indirect) benefit of Philosophy as a foundation for both the theory and practice of intelligence, as all scholars are, in fact, doing it: they implicitly or explicitly interpret and contextualize facts, make arguments, justify premises, claims, approaches and draw conclusions.
The third is an initiative aimed at advancing the development of ‘Critical Intelligence Studies’ (2021).Footnote10 This diverse field seeks to critique and destabilize conventional assumptions, essentialist or functionalist images, discourses and practices of (national) intelligence and security. Intelligence is viewed as a historical creation occurring in contexts characterized by power relations, which can politicize and obscure understanding of what intelligence is or how it is practiced. A major emphasis lies with promoting ‘uncomfortable dissensus”, de-reification, positive conflict or agonizing reflexivism, and a move further away from any positivist objectivist ideal.Footnote11 Revealing power struggles, domination, marginalization, abuse or social harm does however ‘not necessarily need to come at the expense of intelligence effectiveness’.Footnote12 Moreover, it is difficult to strictly separate the study ‘of’ and ‘for intelligence, and critical reflexive research can thus (indirectly) reveal how intelligence might be configured, for example to support more ethical and democratic decision-making.
Lastly, positioned explicitly as an initiative drawing from outside Intelligence Studies is the volume Problematising Intelligence Studies (2022). It advances the idea that contemporary intelligence has become ‘an inescapable dimension of the everyday’ of people and practices, not necessarily related to intelligence services per se. The aim is to understand multiple social actors and domains connected to intelligence practices by studying the human dimensions of daily practices on the ground. Research thus focuses on an expanding number of empirical sites (e.g., the police organization, prisons, local communities, or the internet). The volume proposes articulating a transdisciplinary New Intelligence Studies (NIS) stimulating a ‘reflexive break’ away from the doxa of Intelligence Studies. Contributors should refuse ‘to take for granted its ideas, assumptions and usual conclusions’ and reconstruct intelligence a posteriori based on qualitative empirically driven research ‘from below’ and by giving primacy to the social context.Footnote13
In Intelligence Studies, there has been mostly supportive acknowledgement towards these different collective initiatives. Overall, scholars view them as positive signs of deeper and wider thinking about intelligence theory, and Intelligence Studies as a discipline.Footnote14 Some see value, for example in NIS documenting the expansion of intelligence beyond state services, but also call for a more balanced perspective when reflecting on the intrinsic nature of intelligence, collaboration mechanisms, or oversight effectiveness.Footnote15 Occasionally, there is outspoken criticism, for example, about ‘critical approaches’ and their purportedly ‘destructive impact’ on Intelligence Studies.Footnote16 In the case of the latter, however, one could ask whether the particular interpretation of ‘critical’ presented is applicable to the wide variety of scholars labeled as such in the commentary. If anything, this only confirms the need for more academic debate.
As mentioned, theorizing in Intelligence Studies has been more extensive than these collective works. For example, recently yet another research agenda was published, promoting interdisciplinary research, as the field becomes more international, broader and diverse.Footnote17 All in all, against these backgrounds, how do scholars reflect on the recent initiatives, situate them, or see connections? What stage of progression are we observing in the research? What can be concluded about new directions in the study of intelligence and the way(s) forward? Perhaps philosophizing on intelligence or learning from other disciplines and fields has been more extensive than assumed. Is the value of moving beyond functionalism and state-centrism increasingly recognized? In this Forum, pluralism, multi- and interdisciplinarity, functionalism, institutional influence, the meaning of critique and reflexivism are all important themes, which also inform various categorizations of intelligence practitioners, practitioner-scholars and scholars. Not everyone needs to agree, but overall the Forum expresses how engagement from different perspectives is supported and reductive labeling avoided to advance fruitful theoretical debate.
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Citation
Rogers D. (2024). Special Forum on intelligence and theory. Intelligence and National Security.