Secret Intelligence: A Reader

by Christopher Andrew (Editor), Richard J. Aldrich (Editor), Wesley K. Wark (Editor)

The second edition of Secret Intelligence: A Reader brings together key essays from the field of intelligence studies, blending classic works on concepts and approaches with more recent essays dealing with current issues and ongoing debates about the future of intelligence.

Secret intelligence has never enjoyed a higher profile. The events of 9/11, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the missing WMD controversy, public debates over prisoner interrogation, together with the revelations of figures such as Edward Snowden, recent cyber attacks and the rise of 'hybrid warfare' have all contributed to make this a ‘hot’ subject over the past two decades.

Aiming to be more comprehensive than existing books, and to achieve truly international coverage of the field, this book provides key readings and supporting material for students and course convenors. It is divided into four main sections, each of which includes full summaries of each article, further reading suggestions and student questions:

•　　 The intelligence cycle

•　　 Intelligence, counter-terrorism and security

•　　 Ethics, accountability and secrecy

•　　 Intelligence and the new warfare

This new edition contains essays by leading scholars in the field and will be essential reading for students of intelligence studies, strategic studies, international security and political science in general, and of interest to anyone wishing to understand the current relationship between intelligence and policy-making.

 

 

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

678 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Christopher Maurice Andrew, FRHistS is an Emeritus Professor of Modern and Contemporary History at the University of Cambridge with an interest in international relations and in particular the history of intelligence services. (military.wikia.org)

Reviews

[ValeriZentsov · Rating 2 out of 5]

Honestly, really very expensive for what it is.

The book builds up excellently from the beginning, for sure, and so gives the layman a very well structured introduction building from first principles. The book is also obviously written by some of the most authoritative guys in the subject. The remainder of the book becomes very dense though, dealing in slightly disjointed areas of intellegience (or not expressing the connections well enough for me to grasp them), using case studies from quite a long time ago now.

I'm not a subject matter expert so I couldn't recommend a better text, but I'm sure one can buy a basic introduction, and an up to date book of case studies, for less than the cost of this one book.

[Khaled · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some decent essays related to the field of intelligence, but is largely inaccessible for general reading, and perhaps even specialists in the field. Other titles cover similar case studies and topics in a easier to read format.

This is more suited to towards the advance reader of intelligence who has an interest to further develop his/her understandings. Indeed there are some valuable insights here, they just may be less than obvious to the casual reader.

[Yana Shevkirova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a must-have. Very good and useful examination of various practices and issues surrounding the intelligence work. I reckon, the contributors' names say enough about this book.