Secrets and Spies - Uk Intelligence Accountability After Iraq and Snowden

Exploring how intelligence professionals view accountability in the context of twenty-first century politics
How can democratic governments hold intelligence and security agencies accountable when what they do is largely secret? Using the UK as a case study, this book addresses this question by providing the first systematic exploration of how accountability is understood inside the secret world. It is based on new interviews with current and former UK intelligence practitioners, as well as extensive research into the performance and scrutiny of the UK intelligence machinery. The result is the first detailed analysis of how intelligence professionals view their role, what they feel keeps them honest, and how far external overseers impact on their work
Moving beyond the conventional focus on oversight, the book examines how accountability works in the day to day lives of these organizations, and considers the impact of technological and social changes, such as artificial intelligence and social media.

List of contents

Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction
1. Accountability and Intelligence
2. Scrutinizing the U.K. Intelligence Machinery
3. Practitioner Views of Accountability
4. National Intelligence Accountability
5. Liaison and International Intelligence Accountability
Conclusion
Notes
Index

About the author

Jamie Gaskarth is Associate Professor (Senior Lecturer) in International Relations at Plymouth University, UK

Summary

How can democratic governments hold intelligence and security agencies accountable when what they do is largely secret? Using the UK as a case study, this book addresses this question by providing the first systematic exploration of how accountability is understood inside the secret world.

Product details

• Authors: Jamie Gaskarth, Gaskarth Jamie
• Publisher: Rowman and Littlefield
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 29.02.2020
• EAN: 9780815737971
• ISBN: 978-0-8157-3797-1
• No. of pages: 200
• Series: Insights: Critical Thinking on International Affairs; Chatham House Insights; The Chatham House Insights Series
• Subjects: Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Intelligence & Espionage, POLITICAL SCIENCE / American Government / National, Political structure & processes, Espionage & secret services, Espionage and secret services, Political control and freedoms, Political Control & Freedoms, Political structure and processes, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Privacy & Surveillance