Aims

Intelligence has been described as the 'missing dimension' of international affairs. Yet the twentieth century has seen the growth of intelligence organisations whose activities have played an often crucial role in policy-making, and international relations. The advent of the Cold War and the development of nuclear weapons have provided context and pretext for the growth of modern intelligence organisations. In recent years, intelligence studies has emerged as a significant field of scholarship, casting light on key events and issues in twentieth century international security. Yet the study of intelligence faces considerable methodological challenges. The aim of the module is to explore these various issues and to examine the role of intelligence in national security poolicy making. This is done by focusing on key events and issues in international relations in which intelligence and intelligence organisations played a vital role.

Objectives

- understand key terms and debates in intelligence studies
- assess the role of espionage and intelligence in the twentieth century
- understand the relationship between intelligence and counterintelligence
- evaluate the efficary and morality of 'covert operations' in international security
- assess the implications of the end of the Cold War for intelligence and intelligence studies
- evaluate methodological and historiographical problems in the study of intelligence.