World of Intelligence, 2018-2019 - Prospectus

Admission requirements

Students must be enrolled in the CSM Master programme.
At least 8 students must enroll for the course to take place.
A maximum of 35 students can participate, on a first come, first serve basis

Description

To most people, the world of intelligence and security services might seem like a James Bond movie. As is the case with most movies, reality is quite different. Nevertheless, what these services actually do on a day-to-day basis, why they do what they do, how they operate, and on what legal basis they operate, is often unknown. The knowledge and modus operandi of secret services are often shrouded by mystery. Partially because revealing that kind of information might help adversaries, but also because the scientific discipline of intelligence studies is relatively young. This course will enable students to examine the nature of intelligence services and their role and interaction within a larger societal context.

It is important to strengthen our knowledge about the world of intelligence services because they have played an important role in security affairs worldwide since the beginning of the twentieth century. In this course, we will study these organizations and focus on the functioning of intelligence and security services worldwide. Departing from perceptions of these bulwarks of secrecy, we will analyze the way these services are institutionalized and embedded, in order to understand their function today.

On the basis of primary and secondary materials we will explore the position and day-to-day operations of intelligence and security service within the context of the democratic state and the rule of law. Aside from their qualities, having intelligence and security services comes with many dilemmas and problems. As for example the case of Iraq in 2003 exemplifies, politicians tend to ‘cherry pick’ intelligence – a specific form of the broader phenomenon of the politicization of intelligence. Other dilemmas, such as a lack of cooperation and the issue of ‘connecting the dots’ will be discussed as well, as will problems of intelligence liaison and oversight.

Course objectives

Students will obtain advanced knowledge and understanding of the multidisciplinary field of intelligence studies and its relation to the social sciences, history, political sciences, and public administration. This will help students to increase their knowledge of the state of the art in the academic literature in this field as well as to better understand how to conduct research in this field.
Students will be able to address the main questions (What is intelligence? What do intelligence and security services do? How are they embedded in the democratic state in terms of oversight and control? Who benefits from intelligence, how do policy makers and politicians perceive intelligence officials and analysis?), and define, analyze, and apply the main theories (intelligence cycle and matrix, intelligence bureaucracies, oversight and control), concepts (intelligence definitions, modus operandi, consumers, producers, products, processes), and insights to the field of intelligence studies.
Students will be able to define and analyze the main activities of intelligence and security services, the history of intelligence and security organizations in the West, and the relation between intelligence communities on the one hand and policy makers and politicians on the other.
Students will be able to critically reflect (in terms of historical developments, modus operandi, oversight, control, and added value to policy makers and politicians) on the position of intelligence communities in their broader societal, bureaucratic, and political environments.
Students will be able to build, present, and defend well-grounded and concise arguments in a research paper on one of the most topics discussed in the lectures.
Students will develop a critical mind-set and awareness to reflect on intelligence related issues such as their modus operandi, their political sensitivity and the issue of oversight, not only in an academic setting but in a broader public debate as well.

Timetable

On the right side of the CSM front page of the E-guide you will find links to the website and timetables, uSis and Blackboard.

Mode of instruction

This course consists of 7 seminars.

Participation in lectures, discussions and exercises is required in order to obtain a grade. One lecture may be missed. Being absent more than once may likely lead to expulsion from the course.

Course Load

Total study load 5 EC x 28 hrs. = 140 hrs., of which: – contact hours: 3 hrs. per week x 7 weeks = 21 hrs. – self-study hours: 119 hrs.

Assessment method

Block 1

Midterm assignments (20% each, 60% of total grade)

The midterm assignments consist of three assignments that will test students’ knowledge of the assigned literature and the topics discussed in the course. The assignments will focus on combining the assigned literature with relevant issues in intelligence as well as students’ abilities to present arguments.

Final paper (40%)

The final assignment consists of a short essay of 3000 words (excluding footnotes and bibliography) on an intelligence and security services-related subject to the course. Students will select a topic based on the themes and issues discussed in the course, related to intelligence services and their broader environment. Based on public intelligence, parliamentary or other government reporting, press, and literature (books, articles) students should present a statement and argue how this intelligence issue manifests itself, which values, interests, and views on the problems the relevant ‘parties’ held, how they acted, and what the outcome was. In the end, the paper should provide us with more insight in the role and function of intelligence. Further details will be provided during the lecture.

Block 3

Midterm assignments (20% each, 40% of total grade)

The midterm assignments consist of two rolling exam assignments that will test students’ knowledge of the assigned literature and the topics discussed in the course. The assignments will focus on combining the assigned literature with relevant issues in intelligence as well as students’ abilities to present arguments.

Final paper (60%)

Compensation rule: Only assessments with the weight of 30% and lower are compensable. This means that one does not have to pass an assessment if it weighs less than 30% in order to pass the course, if the average of all assessments combined is at least a 5.5. In addition, assignments with less than 30% are not re-sitable, meaning that if one failed an assessment of less than 30%, one is not allowed to redo it.

Details for submitting papers (deadlines) are posted on Blackboard.

Blackboard

The corresponding Blackboard course will be made available one week prior to the first lecture.

Reading list

To be announced on Blackboard.

Registration

Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.

Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.

Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted there.

Contact

Course coordinator: Liesbeth van der Heide