Read more
This book critically analyses the concept of the intelligence cycle, highlighting the nature and extent of its limitations and proposing alternative ways of conceptualising the intelligence process.
The concept of the intelligence cycle has been central to the study of intelligence. As Intelligence Studies has established itself as a distinctive branch of Political Science, it has generated its own foundational literature, within which the intelligence cycle has constituted a vital thread - one running through all social-science approaches to the study of intelligence and constituting a staple of professional training courses. However, there is a growing acceptance that the concept neither accurately reflects the intelligence process nor accommodates important elements of it, such as covert action, counter-intelligence and oversight.
Bringing together key authors in the field, the book considers these questions across a number of contexts: in relation to intelligence as a general concept, military intelligence, corporate/private sector intelligence and policing and criminal intelligence. A number of the contributions also go beyond discussion of the limitations of the cycle concept to propose alternative conceptualisations of the intelligence process. What emerges is a plurality of approaches that seek to advance the debate and, as a consequence, Intelligence Studies itself.
This book will be of great interest to students of intelligence studies, strategic studies, criminology and policing, security studies and IR in general, as well as to practitioners in the field.
List of contents
Introduction: Beyond the Intelligence Cycle?,
Mark Phythian 1. The Past and Future of the Intelligence Cycle,
Michael Warner 2. From Intelligence Cycle to Web of Intelligence: Complexity and the Conceptualisation of Intelligence,
Peter Gill & Mark Phythian 3. Peddling Hard: Further Questions about the Intelligence Cycle in the Contemporary Era,
Julian Richards 4. The Intelligence Cycle is Dead, Long Live the Intelligence Cycle: Rethinking Intelligence Fundamentals for a New Intelligence Doctrine,
Philip H. J. Davies, Kristian Gustafson & Ian Rigden 5.
Defining the Role of Intelligence in Cyber: A Hybrid Push and Pull,
Aaron Brantly 6. Beyond the Cycle of Intelligence-Led Policing,
James Sheptycki 7.
The Intelligence Cycle in the Corporate World: Bespoke or Off-the-Shelf,
David Strachan-Morris 8.
Is it Time to Move Beyond the Intelligence Cycle? A UK Practitioner Perspective,
David Omand 9.
Intelligence Theory: Seeking Better Models,
Arthur S. Hulnick
About the author
Mark Phythian is Professor of Politics in the Department of Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester. He is the author or editor/co-editor of twelve books.
Summary
This book analyses the nature and extent of the flaws and limitations inherent in the concept of the intelligence cycle, and the extent to which it remains relevant to the study of intelligence today.
