Stephen Marrin
James Madison University, School of Integrated Sciences, Faculty Member
- Intelligence Studies, Intelligence Analysis, Intelligence, Military Intelligence, National Security, Homeland Security, and 12 morePolicy Analysis/Policy Studies, Intelligence Failure, Social Sciences, International Business, Security Studies, International Security, National Security (Intelligence), Defense and National Security, Intelligence and Espionage, Intelligence and security studies, International Studies, and International Relationsedit
- Professor at James Madison University in the US, and Director of the 250+ student Intelligence Analysis program in th... moreProfessor at James Madison University in the US, and Director of the 250+ student Intelligence Analysis program in the School of Integrated Sciences. Holder of a BA from Colgate University and MA and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Virginia, From 2013-2018 I chaired the Intelligence Studies Section of the International Studies Association. A prolific author on aspects of intelligence analysis and analytical theory, I am co-editor of the journal Intelligence and National Security, and was formerly a member of the board of the International Association for Intelligence Education from 2006 to 2009. Before my academic career began, I spent five years as an analyst at the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO). See additional details here:
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/stephen-marrin/1/3b2/53b
or here:
http://www.scribd.com/smarrinedit
"Political science...has already contributed much to American intelligence studies through the theories and concepts developed in its respective subfields, but it could contribute much more…In part, political scientists' limited emphasis... more
"Political science...has already contributed much to American intelligence studies through the theories and concepts developed in its respective subfields, but it could contribute much more…In part, political scientists' limited emphasis on intelligence studies is because most American research universities treat intelligence studies as if it were an experiential field rather than a scholarly one. .. Because political scientists have not yet devoted much time or attention to intelligence studies, there are plenty of opportunities to apply political science concepts to intelligence studies issues in ways that make contributions to the body of knowledge. …This chapter provides a conceptual framework that links political science to intelligence studies based on their common focus on power and then addresses the potential contributions that political science can make to intelligence studies.
This chapter was published in the book: Researching National Security Intelligence: Multidisciplinary Approaches By Stephen Coulthart, Michael Landon-Murray, and Damien Van Puyvelde, Editors
This chapter was published in the book: Researching National Security Intelligence: Multidisciplinary Approaches By Stephen Coulthart, Michael Landon-Murray, and Damien Van Puyvelde, Editors
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The relationship between intelligence organizations and the national security policymakers which they support has its ups and downs. Sometimes the relationship is a good one; communication flows and both sides benefit from the... more
The relationship between intelligence organizations and the national security policymakers which they support has its ups and downs. Sometimes the relationship is a good one; communication flows and both sides benefit from the interaction, but sometimes difficulties arise and problems develop. For example, when knowledge is required for decision but is not available or is inaccurate the outcome is frequently described as an intelligence failure. A subset of this kind of intelligence failure occurs when knowledge is distorted in order to reinforce or oppose policymaker preferences or expectations. Another less successful outcome occurs when good, accurate knowledge is not used to improve policy, but is instead set aside or ignored by those who have the responsibility and obligation to make decisions.
This collection explores the difficulties that can arise in the relationship between intelligence and policy. The chapters consider both politicization of, and lack of receptiveness to, intelligence on the part of policymakers from a variety of different angles. Readers will find that this book challenges conventional wisdom and offers new ways of thinking about this important but understudied area.
This book was published as a special issue of Intelligence and National Security.
The introduction to the book is available for free download at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02684527.2012.749063
This collection explores the difficulties that can arise in the relationship between intelligence and policy. The chapters consider both politicization of, and lack of receptiveness to, intelligence on the part of policymakers from a variety of different angles. Readers will find that this book challenges conventional wisdom and offers new ways of thinking about this important but understudied area.
This book was published as a special issue of Intelligence and National Security.
The introduction to the book is available for free download at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/02684527.2012.749063
Improving intelligence analysis requires bridging the gap between scholarship and practice. Compared to the more established academic disciplines of political science and international relations, intelligence studies scholarship is... more
Improving intelligence analysis requires bridging the gap between scholarship and practice. Compared to the more established academic disciplines of political science and international relations, intelligence studies scholarship is generally quite relevant to practice. Yet a substantial gap exists nonetheless. Even though there are many intelligence analysts, very few of them are aware of the various writings on intelligence analysis which could help them improve their own processes and products. If the gap between scholarship and practice were to be bridged, practitioners would be able to access and exploit the literature in order to acquire new ways to think about, frame, conceptualize, and improve the analytic process and the resulting product. This volume contributes to the broader discussion regarding mechanisms and methods for improving intelligence analysis processes and products. It synthesizes these articles into a coherent whole, linking them together through common themes, and emphasizes the broader vision of intelligence analysis in the introduction and conclusion chapters.
Chapters:
1. Bridging the Gap Between Scholarship and Practice
2. Describing Intelligence Analysis
3. Improving the Science of Intelligence Analysis
4. Improving the Art of Intelligence Analysis
5. Improving Intelligence Analysis with Analytic Teams
6. Improving Intelligence Analysis Through Training and Education
7. Using Analogies to Improve Intelligence Analysis
8. Improving Intelligence Analysis as a Profession
9. The Importance of Scholarship to Practice
Chapters:
1. Bridging the Gap Between Scholarship and Practice
2. Describing Intelligence Analysis
3. Improving the Science of Intelligence Analysis
4. Improving the Art of Intelligence Analysis
5. Improving Intelligence Analysis with Analytic Teams
6. Improving Intelligence Analysis Through Training and Education
7. Using Analogies to Improve Intelligence Analysis
8. Improving Intelligence Analysis as a Profession
9. The Importance of Scholarship to Practice
This edited volume brings together a range of essays by individuals who are centrally involved in the debate about the role and utility of theory in intelligence studies. The volume includes both classic essays and new articles that... more
This edited volume brings together a range of essays by individuals who are centrally involved in the debate about the role and utility of theory in intelligence studies. The volume includes both classic essays and new articles that critically analyse some key issues: strategic intelligence, the place of international relations theory, theories of 'surprise' and failure, organisational issues, and contributions from studies of policing and democratisation. It concludes with a chapter that summarises theoretical developments, and maps out an agenda for future research.
Chapters:
1: An Historical Theory of Intelligence David Kahn
2: Intelligence as Risk Shifting Michael Warner
3: Sketches for a Theory of Strategic Intelligence Loch K. Johnson
4: Intelligence Theory and Theories of International Relations: Shared world or separate worlds? Mark Phythian
5: Theory of Surprise James Wirtz
6: Analysis, War, and Decision: Why intelligence failures are inevitable Richard Betts
7: Intelligence in a Turbulent World: Insights from organization theory Glenn Hastedt and B. Douglas Skelley
8: Intelligence Analysis and Decision-Making: Methodological challenges Stephen Marrin
9: Defending Adaptive Realism: Intelligence theory comes of age Jennifer Sims
10: Policing, Intelligence Theory and the New Human Security Paradigm: Some lessons from the field James Sheptycki
11: Theory and Intelligence Reconsidered Philip H. J. Davies
12: Theories of Intelligence: Where are we, where should we go and how might we proceed? Peter Gill
Chapters:
1: An Historical Theory of Intelligence David Kahn
2: Intelligence as Risk Shifting Michael Warner
3: Sketches for a Theory of Strategic Intelligence Loch K. Johnson
4: Intelligence Theory and Theories of International Relations: Shared world or separate worlds? Mark Phythian
5: Theory of Surprise James Wirtz
6: Analysis, War, and Decision: Why intelligence failures are inevitable Richard Betts
7: Intelligence in a Turbulent World: Insights from organization theory Glenn Hastedt and B. Douglas Skelley
8: Intelligence Analysis and Decision-Making: Methodological challenges Stephen Marrin
9: Defending Adaptive Realism: Intelligence theory comes of age Jennifer Sims
10: Policing, Intelligence Theory and the New Human Security Paradigm: Some lessons from the field James Sheptycki
11: Theory and Intelligence Reconsidered Philip H. J. Davies
12: Theories of Intelligence: Where are we, where should we go and how might we proceed? Peter Gill
Call for Papers on topic of "Private Sector Intelligence" for special issue of journal Intelligence and National Security. 300-word abstracts due 1 July, with full paper due 15 December 2024.
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On November 23, 2021, Dr. Stephen Marrin, program director at James Madison University, presented on The Changing Nature of Intelligence Education at the 2021 CASIS Vancouver West Coast Security Conference. This presentation was followed... more
On November 23, 2021, Dr. Stephen Marrin, program director at James Madison University, presented on The Changing Nature of Intelligence Education at the 2021 CASIS Vancouver West Coast Security Conference. This presentation was followed by a question and answer period and a breakout room session with questions from the audience and CASIS Vancouver executives. The key points discussed included the nature of intelligence studies, the importance of having diverse perspectives in the intelligence and national security space, and the importance of bridging gaps between scholars and practitioners.
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Job advertisement for new faculty position at James Madison University in its Intelligence Analysis Program.
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Announcing a Special Issue of the journal Intelligence and National Security on the subject of Intelligence and Culture. This special issue presents a breadth of scholarly work on the relationship between intelligence and culture. There... more
Announcing a Special Issue of the journal Intelligence and National Security on the subject of Intelligence and Culture. This special issue presents a breadth of scholarly work on the relationship between intelligence and culture. There are several cultural pathways to approach intelligence-the culture of intelligence, being the internal culture of intelligence bodies; intelligence and culture, being how the intelligence community works outwardly with cultures; and intelligence in culture, considering how intelligence is portrayed outside of its own community. This collection of papers covers themes of technological change, language and education, theatre, and literature, all covering a range of historical periods and nationalities that together form a wellrounded and comprehensive understanding of culture in intelligence studies
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This chapter examines how the intelligence literature has historically represented the processes involved in turning data into usable knowledge, as well as how that knowledge is subsequently used by decisionmakers. It then evaluates and... more
This chapter examines how the intelligence literature has historically represented the processes involved in turning data into usable knowledge, as well as how that knowledge is subsequently used by decisionmakers. It then evaluates and critiques the standard approach taken to portray the incorporation of intelligence analysis into decisionmaking, and recommends that a new kind of theory be developed to explain how intelligence analysis is actually used by decisionmakers.
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15 Adding value to the intelligence product Stephen Marrin The value of finished intelligence analysis is not measured solely by its accuracy, but rather by the value it has for decisionmakers. This value, however, can change depending on... more
15 Adding value to the intelligence product Stephen Marrin The value of finished intelligence analysis is not measured solely by its accuracy, but rather by the value it has for decisionmakers. This value, however, can change depending on the informa-tion needs ...
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Abstract Intelligence organizations acquire, evaluate, assess, and disseminate information to support national security and foreign policy decision-making. It is part of a government’s efforts to get as close to complete information as... more
Abstract Intelligence organizations acquire, evaluate, assess, and disseminate information to support national security and foreign policy decision-making. It is part of a government’s efforts to get as close to complete information as possible about both the operating environment as well as other actors. The methodologies employed by intelligence analysts are similar to yet different from those used in many other academic disciplines and professional fields. This discussion about methodology – a form of comparative applied epistemology – can be used to better understand intelligence analysis as a function of government and improve the performance of intelligence analysts.
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As the field of intelligence studies develops as an academic complement to the practice of national security intelligence, it is providing a base of knowledge for intelligence practitioners to interpret their past, understand their... more
As the field of intelligence studies develops as an academic complement to the practice of national security intelligence, it is providing a base of knowledge for intelligence practitioners to interpret their past, understand their present, and forecast their future. It also provides the basis for broader understanding of intelligence as a function of government for other government and security officials, academicians, and the general public. In recent years there has been significant growth in the numbers and kinds of intelligence-related educational and training opportunities, with the knowledge taught in these courses and programs derived from the body of intelligence studies scholarship. The question posed here is: to what extent is this body of knowledge sufficient as a basis for the development of intelligence studies as an academic discipline?
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The Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI's) Counterterrorist Center (CTC), located at Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, provides a focal point for the United States foreign intelligence... more
The Director of Central Intelligence's (DCI's) Counterterrorist Center (CTC), located at Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Headquarters in Langley, Virginia, provides a focal point for the United States foreign intelligence community's efforts to prevent, deter, disrupt, and destroy the ...
To support bioterrorism defense policies, intelligence agencies provide national security decision makers with information on the biological weapons threat to the United States and its interests in general, and the threat posed by... more
To support bioterrorism defense policies, intelligence agencies provide national security decision makers with information on the biological weapons threat to the United States and its interests in general, and the threat posed by terrorist groups in particular, so that they can use ...
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ABSTRACT Many people point to high profile failures like 9/11 and Iraq as indicators that CIA's analytic performance is inadequate or flawed. Flawed by design.1 A legacy of ashes.2 A culture of failure.3 Or so goes the... more
ABSTRACT Many people point to high profile failures like 9/11 and Iraq as indicators that CIA's analytic performance is inadequate or flawed. Flawed by design.1 A legacy of ashes.2 A culture of failure.3 Or so goes the conventional wisdom. Fortunately this conventional wisdom is wrong. These so-called failures more accurately represent the perennial dilemmas and tradeoffs associated with the analytic function and, most importantly, the inappropriate expectation that these observers hold of CIA's ability to prevent surprises. As a matter of fact, there is much that people do not fully understand about the CIA.
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Abstract At a time of intense debate over the specific organizational arrangements of American national security agencies with new or refocused intelligence responsibilities, the relative proximity between intelligence producers and... more
Abstract At a time of intense debate over the specific organizational arrangements of American national security agencies with new or refocused intelligence responsibilities, the relative proximity between intelligence producers and consumers is a key issue. ...
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The 9/11 terrorist attacks have been intensively examined as both tactical and strategic intelligence failures but less attention has been paid to the policy failures which preceded them. Perhaps this is due to the presumption that... more
The 9/11 terrorist attacks have been intensively examined as both tactical and strategic intelligence failures but less attention has been paid to the policy failures which preceded them. Perhaps this is due to the presumption that intelligence analysis influences decision-making as a ...
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Stephen Marrin is an analyst with the General Accounting Office's Defense Capabilities and Management team in Washington, DC. He is also a doctoral candidate in the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics at the University of Virginia,... more
Stephen Marrin is an analyst with the General Accounting Office's Defense Capabilities and Management team in Washington, DC. He is also a doctoral candidate in the Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics at the University of Virginia, specializing in the study of intelligence. He ...
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Intelligence analysts protect Homeland Security from terrorist attacks by providing decisionmakers with information acquired overseas that allows them to prevent, deter, disrupt, or destroy the terrorist threat. According to Mark Kauppi ... more
Intelligence analysts protect Homeland Security from terrorist attacks by providing decisionmakers with information acquired overseas that allows them to prevent, deter, disrupt, or destroy the terrorist threat. According to Mark Kauppi the program manager for the Intelligence ...
Recently—after the release of the 9/11 Commission and WMD Commission Reports--a substantial amount of money and attention has been devoted to the identification and development of structured analytic techniques for capturing, presenting,... more
Recently—after the release of the 9/11 Commission and WMD Commission Reports--a substantial amount of money and attention has been devoted to the identification and development of structured analytic techniques for capturing, presenting, and evaluating data more effectively; deriving patterns from the data; understanding what those patterns mean; and communicating them to others. But less attention has been focused on the utility of structured methods, their fit with the reigning analytic culture, and when they should be used, or not used, by analysts. This article addresses these issues using medical practices to illustrate how the same kinds of dynamics can play out in the field of intelligence analysis.
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41 IMPROVING CIA ANALYSIS BY OVERCOMING INSTITUTIONAL OBSTACLES Stephen Marrin The accuracy of CIA intelligence analysis depends in part upon an individual analyst's expertise, yet programs implemented to increase this expertise may... more
41 IMPROVING CIA ANALYSIS BY OVERCOMING INSTITUTIONAL OBSTACLES Stephen Marrin The accuracy of CIA intelligence analysis depends in part upon an individual analyst's expertise, yet programs implemented to increase this expertise may not be sufficient to ...
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Abstract This article evaluates the current state of play regarding the growing number of references to intelligence theory in the intelligence studies literature, with preliminary observations as follows: while most new contributions are... more
Abstract This article evaluates the current state of play regarding the growing number of references to intelligence theory in the intelligence studies literature, with preliminary observations as follows: while most new contributions are extensions or enhancements of existing theories, new intelligence theories have been quite valuable in terms of enhancing understandings of intelligence as a function of government, with additional theories being developed outside the intelligence studies literature. Looking ahead, the development of schools of thought for theories built around particular kinds of questions would help enhance intelligence studies scholarship through debates over definitions, ontological understandings, epistemological frameworks, and theories.
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Strategic intelligence analysis frequently does not influence the creation and implementation of American foreign policy. This is contrary to an expectation that intelligence analysis should matter in the making of foreign policy and... more
Strategic intelligence analysis frequently does not influence the creation and implementation of American foreign policy. This is contrary to an expectation that intelligence analysis should matter in the making of foreign policy and national security. Better intelligence analysis should lead to better policy. Ideally, independent and objective intelligence analysts provide the information and assessments that decisionmakers use to make the best possible decisions.
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ABSTRACT Analytic objectivity as a standard for the US Intelligence Community appears to have been drawn from idealized conceptualizations of the scientific method as a kind of value-neutral epistemological framework used to develop... more
ABSTRACT Analytic objectivity as a standard for the US Intelligence Community appears to have been drawn from idealized conceptualizations of the scientific method as a kind of value-neutral epistemological framework used to develop knowledge “objectively.” But this embrace of objectivity provides a poor foundation for contemporary conceptualizations of the applied epistemology of intelligence analysis, as well as performance standards. Instead, intelligence analysts should embrace a more realistic goal of aspiring to but never actually achieving analytic objectivity through the reduction of subjectivity while embracing the values of honesty, neutrality, and integrity encapsulated in the phrase “calling it as you see it”.
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Even though intelligence analysis—which possesses characteristics of both crafts and professions--is frequently referred to as a profession, in actuality it has been practiced more like a craft. As a result, it lacks many of the benefits... more
Even though intelligence analysis—which possesses characteristics of both crafts and professions--is frequently referred to as a profession, in actuality it has been practiced more like a craft. As a result, it lacks many of the benefits of formal professions, such as structured personnel practices, and possesses no quality control mechanism to ensure the reliability of the individual analyst’s output. Turning intelligence analysis from a craft into a profession would provide the opportunity for evolutionary—and possibly even revolutionary—improvement in both individual and organizational performance due to the adoption of formal personnel practices and standardization of best practices across all intelligence agencies.
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Abstract This article evaluates the current state of play regarding the growing number of references to intelligence theory in the intelligence studies literature, with preliminary observations as follows: while most new contributions are... more
Abstract This article evaluates the current state of play regarding the growing number of references to intelligence theory in the intelligence studies literature, with preliminary observations as follows: while most new contributions are extensions or enhancements of existing theories, new intelligence theories have been quite valuable in terms of enhancing understandings of intelligence as a function of government, with additional theories being developed outside the intelligence studies literature. Looking ahead, the development of schools of thought for theories built around particular kinds of questions would help enhance intelligence studies scholarship through debates over definitions, ontological understandings, epistemological frameworks, and theories.
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Abstract Common thinking strategies can be used by both intelligence analysts and medical doctors to improve decision-making and produce positive outcomes. Best practices can flow in both directions between professions since medicine... more
Abstract Common thinking strategies can be used by both intelligence analysts and medical doctors to improve decision-making and produce positive outcomes. Best practices can flow in both directions between professions since medicine shares strong parallels with intelligence analysis. Improving performance in both fields involves an assessment of key problems and current efforts to overcome them. Perhaps the most important issues affecting both fields are related to cognition. In medicine and intelligence analysis, errors are often triggered by cognitive biases that appear during the decision-making process. Identifying and preventing these errors would contribute towards improving performance and results in both fields.
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example of how to engage in the complex “ethical calculus and affective flows” (p. 150) in the most difficult of circumstances. In this particular instance, the International Committee of the Red Cross and its head of delegation, Philippe... more
example of how to engage in the complex “ethical calculus and affective flows” (p. 150) in the most difficult of circumstances. In this particular instance, the International Committee of the Red Cross and its head of delegation, Philippe Gaillard, are singled out by the author for providing exemplary ethical leadership, as, in contrast to the United States and the United Nations, the ICRC refused to abandon its local staff or to betray its ethical mission to help those affected by conflict, even to the extent of putting into question its commitment to neutrality in the context of events occurring on the ground. “[I]ndividuals on the ground,” according to Amoureux, exercised ethical reflexivity as they “redefined, reframed, narrowed, and even rejected the scope of neutrality and impartiality while drawing on other resources for ethical judgment” (p. 166, emphasis in the original). If the ICRC demonstrated the ethical reflexivity of leadership, the opposition of elements within the Bush administration to “enhanced interrogation” reveals that “the dialectic of thought and action is perhaps possible”; that is, the ethical reflexivity of dissent can be practiced “even in the most stifling of environments” (p. 176). The final case study revolves around the moral courage of Dennis Blair, President Barack Obama’s director of national intelligence, who displayed the ethical reflexivity of a “friendly critic” in relation to the use of drones against terrorists. Amoureux does not hesitate to identify Blair as anomalous within an administration that was disingenuous, to say the least, in its use of these weapons. Committed to its legalistic justifications of the utility of drone warfare, the Obama administration missed the opportunity to engage in the sort of ethical auto-critique and dialogue that can identify ethically appropriate, as opposed to morally exculpating, actions. This is a book that is rich in content and deserving of a wide readership within the discipline of IR. It breaks interesting ground in how to think about ethics that will surely provoke debate. Those who, like Kantians, insist on the sanctity of the moral law may be less enamored of its approach than, for example, those who inhabit the ethical wings of realism, but both would profit from a serious engagement with Amoureux’s work. The primary contribution of the book is its identification of agency and judgment as the key principles of ethics in IR. The author is clear in his stated ambition to offer a political ethics, that is, one that informs action as opposed to one that follows the dictates of any given moral law. As such, he leads international ethics away from deontological and prescriptive approaches that melt in the heat of political conditions to which their rational, if inapt, nature is not best suited. Amoureux is to be particularly congratulated for his successful rehabilitation of the vital concept of phronesis in matters relating to questions of global ethics. Overall, A Practice of Ethics for Global Politics is a strong addition to the growing literature on ethics in IR that opens up new avenues for research into the ethical theories and practices that predominate in our era. It might serve to usher us into a better, more ethically reflexive global environment based on judgment and not slavish adherence to “the law.”
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A discussion, sometimes portrayed as a debate, has been taking place for decades addressing the issue of whether intelligence analysis is an art or a science. In 2009 and again in 2010, this debate over the question of whether... more
A discussion, sometimes portrayed as a debate, has been taking place for decades addressing the issue of whether intelligence analysis is an art or a science. In 2009 and again in 2010, this debate over the question of whether intelligence analysis is an art or science was engaged through the e-mail list of the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE).3 In total, the discussion involved over thirty participants and well over fifty messages, reflecting a wide range of perspectives on the issue. Insights gleaned from this discussion about the nature of intelligence analysis can have implications for the future of practicing, teaching, and learning intelligence analysis.
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ABSTRACT Politicization as a term used in intelligence studies is poorly defined, conceptualized and operationalized. Despite the negative connotations associated with the word politicization that equate it with a form of corruption, it... more
ABSTRACT Politicization as a term used in intelligence studies is poorly defined, conceptualized and operationalized. Despite the negative connotations associated with the word politicization that equate it with a form of corruption, it is not entirely clear what it is a corruption of. In short, the concept of politicization is for the most part analytically useless. This article critiques the existing status quo conceptualization for being overly broad and insufficiently nuanced, explores the nature of analytic politicization as a subset of politicization writ large, and replaces it with a narrower conceptualization that explains what makes analytic politicization bad and deserving of condemnation. Based on this evaluation, one can conclude that much of what is considered to be politicization in a corrupted sense is really just a naturally-occurring consequence of analysis and interpretation in a policy or political context.
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In terms of intelligence analysis, the term training is usually associated with internal government programs intended to provide specific instruction for the implementation of job-related tasks, while the term education is normally... more
In terms of intelligence analysis, the term training is usually associated with internal government programs intended to provide specific instruction for the implementation of job-related tasks, while the term education is normally associated with academic courses or programs ...
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View all references Narrow definitions of national security focus tightly on military issues, but broader definitions can incorporate political, economic, social, and environmental considerations. As definitions of security expand, so do... more
View all references Narrow definitions of national security focus tightly on military issues, but broader definitions can incorporate political, economic, social, and environmental considerations. As definitions of security expand, so do perceptions of threats to national ...
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Twenty years ago…on 11 September 2001…Al Qaeda conducted a terrorist attack on the United States which killed almost 3000 people and injured another 6000. This collection of articles published in the journal Intelligence and National... more
Twenty years ago…on 11 September 2001…Al Qaeda conducted a terrorist attack on the United States which killed almost 3000 people and injured another 6000. This collection of articles published in the journal Intelligence and National Security addresses aspects of intelligence performance on terrorism before and after the 9/11 attacks as a retrospective on the 20th anniversary of the attacks.
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This is the table of contents and links to articles in a special issue of the journal Intelligence and National Security with the theme of: "Anatomy of a Controversy: The 2007 Iran Nuclear NIE Revisited"
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Abstract: Designing the educational curricula for undergraduate intelligence analysis programs is inherently difficult, as they entail highly complex, interwoven degree structures that integrate liberal arts knowledge with professional... more
Abstract: Designing the educational curricula for undergraduate intelligence analysis programs is inherently difficult, as they entail highly complex, interwoven degree structures that integrate liberal arts knowledge with professional skills in novel combinations. Undergraduate intelligence analysis programs, specifically, have attracted increasing attention from institutions of higher learning due to their interdisciplinary approach to education combined with the utility and marketability of their graduates. But academic studies of intelligence education programs have not yet used the educational literature to create a conceptual baseline for evaluation purposes. Accordingly, this study uses concepts from existing educational literature to develop an evaluative framework for intelligence analysis programs in the United States and then applies that framework to James Madison University’s intelligence analysis program as a case study. It finds that challenges and tensions can arise from efforts to combine liberal arts with professional education, which highlight difficulties of achieving both simultaneously due to the tradeoffs involved. In the end, while each undergraduate intelligence analysis program provides its own unique blend of knowledge and skills to its students, the quality of the program will be determined by the depth and breadth of knowledge that the students acquire along with an overlay of useful skills to help them exploit that knowledge to best effect.
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Research Interests: International Relations, Philosophy, Information Security, Intelligence Studies, International Security, and 6 moreIntelligence and Espionage, National Security (Intelligence), National Security, Defense and National Security, Intelligence and security studies, and Intelligence and National Security
Annual call for papers/panels for the intelligence studies section program of the 2022 convention of the International Studies Association to be held in Nashville, TN, March 29-April 2, 2022
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Please see below for the Intelligence Studies Section program at the International Studies Association (ISA) conference, 25-28 March 2020 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Intelligence Studies Section is one of thirty thematic sections that make... more
Please see below for the Intelligence Studies Section program at the International Studies Association (ISA) conference, 25-28 March 2020 in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Intelligence Studies Section is one of thirty thematic sections that make up the ISA, has approximately 400 members, and has been sponsoring research about intelligence as a function of government since the mid-1980s. This Intelligence Studies Section content (4 straight days, 30 panels and roundtables) is one small part of ISA’s much larger conference. The full conference program is almost 300 pages; find details at the full conference website here:
http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/Honolulu2020-s/Honolulu%202020%20-%20Full%20Program.pdf
http://web.isanet.org/Web/Conferences/Honolulu2020-s/Honolulu%202020%20-%20Full%20Program.pdf
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The Intelligence Studies Section, one of twenty-nine sections within the ISA, is the primary venue for presenting new intelligence studies research and scholarship globally: from evaluations of intelligence methods to espionage to... more
The Intelligence Studies Section, one of twenty-nine sections within the ISA, is the primary venue for presenting new intelligence studies research and scholarship globally: from evaluations of intelligence methods to espionage to comparative intelligence systems. If it is research about intelligence, ISS is the venue to present it.
Proposals specifically for the Intelligence Studies Section can cover any aspect of the debates and issues within contemporary Intelligence Studies. We are particularly keen to build bridges with other disciplines and co-sponsor panels with other ISA sections. We are soliciting for papers addressing topics including, but not limited, to the following:
• Intelligence as a factor in international relations and foreign policy
• Theory and concepts in the study of intelligence
• Comparative intelligence studies and intelligence cultures • Intelligence in the Global South
• Intelligence and Islands
• Diversity and intelligence (gender and ethnicity, but also cognitive and methodological diversity, etc.)
• Intelligence analysis
• Intelligence education and professionalization
• Intelligence and emerging technologies
• Intelligence cooperation (national, international, and between the public/private sectors)
• Law enforcement/criminal intelligence
• Intelligence and military operations
• Interdisciplinary research on intelligence
• Intelligence-society relationship: media & strategic communications
Proposals specifically for the Intelligence Studies Section can cover any aspect of the debates and issues within contemporary Intelligence Studies. We are particularly keen to build bridges with other disciplines and co-sponsor panels with other ISA sections. We are soliciting for papers addressing topics including, but not limited, to the following:
• Intelligence as a factor in international relations and foreign policy
• Theory and concepts in the study of intelligence
• Comparative intelligence studies and intelligence cultures • Intelligence in the Global South
• Intelligence and Islands
• Diversity and intelligence (gender and ethnicity, but also cognitive and methodological diversity, etc.)
• Intelligence analysis
• Intelligence education and professionalization
• Intelligence and emerging technologies
• Intelligence cooperation (national, international, and between the public/private sectors)
• Law enforcement/criminal intelligence
• Intelligence and military operations
• Interdisciplinary research on intelligence
• Intelligence-society relationship: media & strategic communications
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Intelligence Studies Section panels at ISA2019
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These are panels at the International Studies Association conference being held March 2019 in Toronto. Additional details here: https://www.isanet.org/Conferences/Toronto-2019
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Deadline for proposals is 1 June 2018
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Intelligence Studies Section details for ISA2018
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INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE STUDIES: A MUCH-NEEDED DIALOGUE The topic of the June 2018 Volume of the Journal of Mediterranean and Balkan Intelligence (JMBI) is “International Relations and Intelligence Studies: a much-needed... more
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND INTELLIGENCE STUDIES: A MUCH-NEEDED DIALOGUE
The topic of the June 2018 Volume of the Journal of Mediterranean and Balkan Intelligence (JMBI) is “International Relations and Intelligence Studies: a much-needed dialogue.” This issue will address a vital theme that the literature has neglected, despite a sustained call for theorization from various scholars (Fry & Hochstein, 1993; Andrew, 2004; Svendsen, 2009; Konstantopoulos, 2015) – setting-up a framework to approach the interaction between International Relations (IR) and Intelligence Studies (IS).
Present-day intelligence is no longer just an outmost secret citadel, but it is the heart of international relations, homeland security and defense policies, as well as foreign policy analysis. The official acknowledgment of intelligence services’ international activity by Western countries indicates that the intelligence tradecraft is now a regular practice of states' external action. International organizations are also conveying strong messages about their need to increase intelligence capabilities (NATO) and develop an intelligence policy framework (UN). That being said, intelligence has emerged as a vantage point for the understanding of contemporary international politics and thus can no longer be regarded as the “missing dimension.”
However, IS and IR remain two fields of research in a state of “alarming disconnection” (Aldrich, 2010). IR publications rarely mention intelligence issues or even make reference to the term “intelligence.” Conversely, intelligence is seldom theorized through mainstream theories of IR: realism, liberalism, constructivism, etc. Yet, specific intelligence matters such as covert actions or cooperation take place in the context of international interaction, and therefore become
JOURNAL OF MEDITERRANEAN AND BALKAN INTELLIGENCE CALL FOR PAPERS | JUNE 2018 ISSUE
MANUSCRIPTS ABSTRACTS REFERENCES MANUAL OF STYLE
Maximum 8000 words. About 400 words. Numbered consecutively
at the end of the paper
(endnotes).
The Chicago manual of
style, 14th edition.
legends, should be typewritten, one and half spaced (1 & 1/5).
All margins should be at least one inch and all pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript.
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word.
Titles must be as brief and clear as possible. On the title page include full names of authors, academic and/or other professional affiliations, email accounts and the complete mailing address for correspondence.
All references should be numbered consecutively at the end of the paper (ENDNOTES).
In the text, references should be cited by a superior character of the corresponding number. For further information, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition.
All articles undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process.
research topics in IR. Furthermore, intelligence should be studied through the scope of IR theories in order to enhance and develop the understanding of the symbiotic relation between the two. For instance, either through military operations, nuclear proliferation, counter-terrorism or espionage, international relations and intelligence are connected in practice. Based on this premise, both academic fields should, ideally, also be connected through theory and addressed fruitfully by enabling a constructive dialogue between IR and IS scholars. To this end, filling this gap is more than necessary in a context of internationalization of intelligence and diversification of IR actors and resources.
This volume aims at engaging readers and authors in a dialogue about ways in which IR and IS can be mutually strengthened and developed via genuine reflections upon, although not limited to, the following topics:
Analyze the role of strategic intelligence in the dynamics of 21st century IR;
Analyze the application of IR theories to IS;
Benchmark from IR to develop a much-needed theory of intelligence;
Explore the contribution of intelligence tradecraft to international politics;
Investigate the emerging role of cross-border intelligence settings in international relations;
Inquire about the evolution of intelligence agencies as emerging actors in international politics;
Analyze the role of intelligence cooperation in the 21st century security context;
Develop a theoretical framework to analyze the role of intelligence in foreign policy decision-making;
Explore connections between IR and the “dirty question” of espionage.
The editors look forward to receiving theoretical and empirical papers, syntheses, expert opinions and book reviews in relation to IR and IS theories, tools, good practices and policies. Contributors are invited to share their expertise on the role of intelligence in 21st century international politics, and future shifts in IR matters likely to shape intelligence tradecraft, respectively. On this account, perspectives from both the academic and government environments that address applied and theoretical issues are expected to provide significant approaches on present and future trends.
MANUSCRIPTS ABSTRACTS REFERENCES MANUAL OF STYLE
Maximum 8000 words. About 400 words. Numbered consecutively
at the end of the paper
(endnotes).
The Chicago manual of
style, 14th edition.
Manuscripts, as well as questions and requests for clarifications should be submitted by email at:
elena.baches@brunel.ac.uk, benjamin.oudet@univ-poitiers.fr, efren.r.torres@gmail.com iancu.nicu@gmail.com.
Final manuscripts are expected to be submitted to the editors by May 10th, 2018, with an expected publication date of June 20th, 2018.
The topic of the June 2018 Volume of the Journal of Mediterranean and Balkan Intelligence (JMBI) is “International Relations and Intelligence Studies: a much-needed dialogue.” This issue will address a vital theme that the literature has neglected, despite a sustained call for theorization from various scholars (Fry & Hochstein, 1993; Andrew, 2004; Svendsen, 2009; Konstantopoulos, 2015) – setting-up a framework to approach the interaction between International Relations (IR) and Intelligence Studies (IS).
Present-day intelligence is no longer just an outmost secret citadel, but it is the heart of international relations, homeland security and defense policies, as well as foreign policy analysis. The official acknowledgment of intelligence services’ international activity by Western countries indicates that the intelligence tradecraft is now a regular practice of states' external action. International organizations are also conveying strong messages about their need to increase intelligence capabilities (NATO) and develop an intelligence policy framework (UN). That being said, intelligence has emerged as a vantage point for the understanding of contemporary international politics and thus can no longer be regarded as the “missing dimension.”
However, IS and IR remain two fields of research in a state of “alarming disconnection” (Aldrich, 2010). IR publications rarely mention intelligence issues or even make reference to the term “intelligence.” Conversely, intelligence is seldom theorized through mainstream theories of IR: realism, liberalism, constructivism, etc. Yet, specific intelligence matters such as covert actions or cooperation take place in the context of international interaction, and therefore become
JOURNAL OF MEDITERRANEAN AND BALKAN INTELLIGENCE CALL FOR PAPERS | JUNE 2018 ISSUE
MANUSCRIPTS ABSTRACTS REFERENCES MANUAL OF STYLE
Maximum 8000 words. About 400 words. Numbered consecutively
at the end of the paper
(endnotes).
The Chicago manual of
style, 14th edition.
legends, should be typewritten, one and half spaced (1 & 1/5).
All margins should be at least one inch and all pages should be numbered consecutively throughout the manuscript.
Manuscripts must be submitted electronically in Microsoft Word.
Titles must be as brief and clear as possible. On the title page include full names of authors, academic and/or other professional affiliations, email accounts and the complete mailing address for correspondence.
All references should be numbered consecutively at the end of the paper (ENDNOTES).
In the text, references should be cited by a superior character of the corresponding number. For further information, consult The Chicago Manual of Style, 14th edition.
All articles undergo a rigorous double-blind peer review process.
research topics in IR. Furthermore, intelligence should be studied through the scope of IR theories in order to enhance and develop the understanding of the symbiotic relation between the two. For instance, either through military operations, nuclear proliferation, counter-terrorism or espionage, international relations and intelligence are connected in practice. Based on this premise, both academic fields should, ideally, also be connected through theory and addressed fruitfully by enabling a constructive dialogue between IR and IS scholars. To this end, filling this gap is more than necessary in a context of internationalization of intelligence and diversification of IR actors and resources.
This volume aims at engaging readers and authors in a dialogue about ways in which IR and IS can be mutually strengthened and developed via genuine reflections upon, although not limited to, the following topics:
Analyze the role of strategic intelligence in the dynamics of 21st century IR;
Analyze the application of IR theories to IS;
Benchmark from IR to develop a much-needed theory of intelligence;
Explore the contribution of intelligence tradecraft to international politics;
Investigate the emerging role of cross-border intelligence settings in international relations;
Inquire about the evolution of intelligence agencies as emerging actors in international politics;
Analyze the role of intelligence cooperation in the 21st century security context;
Develop a theoretical framework to analyze the role of intelligence in foreign policy decision-making;
Explore connections between IR and the “dirty question” of espionage.
The editors look forward to receiving theoretical and empirical papers, syntheses, expert opinions and book reviews in relation to IR and IS theories, tools, good practices and policies. Contributors are invited to share their expertise on the role of intelligence in 21st century international politics, and future shifts in IR matters likely to shape intelligence tradecraft, respectively. On this account, perspectives from both the academic and government environments that address applied and theoretical issues are expected to provide significant approaches on present and future trends.
MANUSCRIPTS ABSTRACTS REFERENCES MANUAL OF STYLE
Maximum 8000 words. About 400 words. Numbered consecutively
at the end of the paper
(endnotes).
The Chicago manual of
style, 14th edition.
Manuscripts, as well as questions and requests for clarifications should be submitted by email at:
elena.baches@brunel.ac.uk, benjamin.oudet@univ-poitiers.fr, efren.r.torres@gmail.com iancu.nicu@gmail.com.
Final manuscripts are expected to be submitted to the editors by May 10th, 2018, with an expected publication date of June 20th, 2018.
Research Interests:
Preliminary program for the Intelligence Studies Section panels at the International Studies Association conference in 2018
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
This is the content of the Intelligence Studies Section panels at ISA2017
Research Interests:
See below for the Intelligence Studies Section program at the International Studies Association (ISA) conference, 16-19 March 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia. The Intelligence Studies Section is one of 28 thematic sections that make up the ISA,... more
See below for the Intelligence Studies Section program at the International Studies Association (ISA) conference, 16-19 March 2016 in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Intelligence Studies Section is one of 28 thematic sections that make up the ISA, has approximately 350 members, and has been sponsoring research about intelligence as a function of government since the mid-1980s. Additional information can be found here: http://www.isanet.org/ISA/Sections/ISS.aspx
This Intelligence Studies Section content (4 straight days...28 panels and roundtables) is one small part of ISA’s much larger conference. The full conference program is over 300 pages; find details at the full conference website here: http://www.isanet.org/Conferences/Atlanta-2016
As the chair of the Intelligence Studies Section, if you have any questions please contact me at marrinsp@jmu.edu or spm8p@yahoo.com
Regards,
Dr. Stephen Marrin
ISAT/Intelligence Analysis
James Madison University
http://www.isat.jmu.edu/people/marrin.html
https://jmu.academia.edu/StephenMarrin
The Intelligence Studies Section is one of 28 thematic sections that make up the ISA, has approximately 350 members, and has been sponsoring research about intelligence as a function of government since the mid-1980s. Additional information can be found here: http://www.isanet.org/ISA/Sections/ISS.aspx
This Intelligence Studies Section content (4 straight days...28 panels and roundtables) is one small part of ISA’s much larger conference. The full conference program is over 300 pages; find details at the full conference website here: http://www.isanet.org/Conferences/Atlanta-2016
As the chair of the Intelligence Studies Section, if you have any questions please contact me at marrinsp@jmu.edu or spm8p@yahoo.com
Regards,
Dr. Stephen Marrin
ISAT/Intelligence Analysis
James Madison University
http://www.isat.jmu.edu/people/marrin.html
https://jmu.academia.edu/StephenMarrin
Research Interests:
Intelligence Studies Section call for papers for ISA2017.
Research Interests:
Political science, as the study of power, government and governance, has much to contribute to the study of American intelligence, also known as American intelligence studies. Specifically, through the theories and concepts developed in... more
Political science, as the study of power, government and governance, has much to contribute to the study of American intelligence, also known as American intelligence studies. Specifically, through the theories and concepts developed in its respective subfields, political science provides the opportunity to frame many different kinds of intelligence studies questions and topics that can help develop deeper understandings about intelligence as a function of government. Link to video of presentation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQbSsCg87RY
Research Interests:
Since the end of the Cold War, CIA analysts have incorporated new technologies and techniques into their production processes. Yet the effectiveness of these changes in improving analytic processes is debatable given the frequency of high... more
Since the end of the Cold War, CIA analysts have incorporated new technologies and techniques into their production processes. Yet the effectiveness of these changes in improving analytic processes is debatable given the frequency of high profile failures like 9/11 and Iraq. Many people point to these failures as indicators that CIA’s analytic performance is inadequate or flawed. Yet this conventional wisdom is wrong. These so-called failures more accurately represent the perennial dilemmas and tradeoffs associated with the analytic function, and–most importantly–the inappropriate expectation that these observers hold of CIA’s ability to prevent surprises. A more careful examination of both history and concept reveals a greater need for a change in expectations than a change in analytic process. In addition, while much has been written about CIA’s failures, much more needs to be written from the perspective of the working analyst or manager regarding the frequency and type of analytic success. Only then will we have the ability to accurately evaluate the effectiveness of CIA’s post-Cold War analytic performance.
Steve Marrin chooses his words carefully. He used to work for the CIA; he now analyzes the agency. But having access to some of the nation’s most protected secrets comes at a cost. "I am bound by a post-employment security agreement,"... more
Steve Marrin chooses his words carefully. He used to work for the CIA; he now analyzes the agency. But having access to some of the nation’s most protected secrets comes at a cost. "I am bound by a post-employment security agreement," says Marrin. Anything he writes or speaks publicly about intelligence issues must go before an agency review panel -- for the rest of his life.
Still, enough of Marrin's work has become public for him to be named as one of the top 10 experts on intelligence reform by the National Journal. "Just because Marrin is a 33-year-old, finishing up his doctoral dissertation, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be listened to," reads the May 2004 article which describes Marrin as a rising star in the post-9/11 world of intelligence reform.
"I've no idea why I was chosen," said Marrin, who marvels at the influential names he sits alongside on the list. "It gives what I do a certain amount of legitimacy." National Journal reporter Gregg Sangillo, who helped compile the list, comments that Marrin was, "a key thinker. Somebody off the beaten path, somebody different."
Marrin is different. He is a self-proclaimed creative conceptualizer, and his willingness to share his thoughts led him to be at odds with CIA expectations. "The agency has a one-size-fits-all approach to analysis," said Marrin. "This doesn't allow for different types of thinking. I could produce the type of analysis that they wanted once I stopped thinking about it in my way and started to think about it in theirs. "I ask ‘why’ a lot," said Marrin. "Because of that my focus is frequently on causation or motivation. The CIA, on the other hand, is very data/fact oriented. Their goal is not to ask ‘why.’"
But the agency still listened to many of his ideas, including creating more links between different parts of the agency structure. Marrin's proposal, which suggested a university-like structure, led to the creation of the CIA University in 2002.
Marrin's passion for intelligence reform is driven by his desire to keep the country safe. This desire grew after the father of a high school classmate died in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. "This was a turning point for me," said Marrin. "I thought of becoming a cop but that was too much doing for my style. I'm more of a thinker. I want to protect and serve in an intellectual way."
Marrin left the CIA after deciding to pursue his interest in studying intelligence analysis, rather than working as an analyst. This brought him to U.Va.'s Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, and in 2002 he completed his master's thesis, which described the CIA's training program and evaluated possible improvements. Marrin's study has continued into a doctorate under the guidance of the director of U.Va.'s Miller Center, Philip Zelikow, in what Marrin describes as a "work of mutual interest."
Marrin's Ph.D. work addresses the relationship between intelligence and decision making. “It assesses the organizational mechanisms used to transfer information between intelligence producers and consumers in order to determine if one approach is more effective than others."
Marrin is quick to dispel any hint of intrigue or glamour associated with his work and describes the CIA as a typical office environment. He cites the example of the television series, "The Agency," which was canned after one season for not getting the ratings. "The series wasn't exciting enough," says Marrin. "It was mainly about office work. It was pretty close to the truth."
Marrin does admit that there are things he could say that would be cool. "But I can't talk about them. I have a way of making things uninteresting."
Far from being uninteresting, Marrin's ideas and offers are coming thick and fast. "I'm pretty much booked through to May," said Marrin, citing a long list of papers to write and present while still trying to finish his doctorate. So from here to academia? "Maybe," Marrin said thoughtfully. "I've got all sorts of ideas.
Still, enough of Marrin's work has become public for him to be named as one of the top 10 experts on intelligence reform by the National Journal. "Just because Marrin is a 33-year-old, finishing up his doctoral dissertation, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be listened to," reads the May 2004 article which describes Marrin as a rising star in the post-9/11 world of intelligence reform.
"I've no idea why I was chosen," said Marrin, who marvels at the influential names he sits alongside on the list. "It gives what I do a certain amount of legitimacy." National Journal reporter Gregg Sangillo, who helped compile the list, comments that Marrin was, "a key thinker. Somebody off the beaten path, somebody different."
Marrin is different. He is a self-proclaimed creative conceptualizer, and his willingness to share his thoughts led him to be at odds with CIA expectations. "The agency has a one-size-fits-all approach to analysis," said Marrin. "This doesn't allow for different types of thinking. I could produce the type of analysis that they wanted once I stopped thinking about it in my way and started to think about it in theirs. "I ask ‘why’ a lot," said Marrin. "Because of that my focus is frequently on causation or motivation. The CIA, on the other hand, is very data/fact oriented. Their goal is not to ask ‘why.’"
But the agency still listened to many of his ideas, including creating more links between different parts of the agency structure. Marrin's proposal, which suggested a university-like structure, led to the creation of the CIA University in 2002.
Marrin's passion for intelligence reform is driven by his desire to keep the country safe. This desire grew after the father of a high school classmate died in the bombing of Pan Am flight 103 over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988. "This was a turning point for me," said Marrin. "I thought of becoming a cop but that was too much doing for my style. I'm more of a thinker. I want to protect and serve in an intellectual way."
Marrin left the CIA after deciding to pursue his interest in studying intelligence analysis, rather than working as an analyst. This brought him to U.Va.'s Woodrow Wilson Department of Politics, and in 2002 he completed his master's thesis, which described the CIA's training program and evaluated possible improvements. Marrin's study has continued into a doctorate under the guidance of the director of U.Va.'s Miller Center, Philip Zelikow, in what Marrin describes as a "work of mutual interest."
Marrin's Ph.D. work addresses the relationship between intelligence and decision making. “It assesses the organizational mechanisms used to transfer information between intelligence producers and consumers in order to determine if one approach is more effective than others."
Marrin is quick to dispel any hint of intrigue or glamour associated with his work and describes the CIA as a typical office environment. He cites the example of the television series, "The Agency," which was canned after one season for not getting the ratings. "The series wasn't exciting enough," says Marrin. "It was mainly about office work. It was pretty close to the truth."
Marrin does admit that there are things he could say that would be cool. "But I can't talk about them. I have a way of making things uninteresting."
Far from being uninteresting, Marrin's ideas and offers are coming thick and fast. "I'm pretty much booked through to May," said Marrin, citing a long list of papers to write and present while still trying to finish his doctorate. So from here to academia? "Maybe," Marrin said thoughtfully. "I've got all sorts of ideas.
Just because Marrin is a 33-year-old, finishing up his doctoral dissertation, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be listened to. Marrin, a GAO analyst and a doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia, is not very well known in... more
Just because Marrin is a 33-year-old, finishing up his doctoral dissertation, that doesn't mean he shouldn't be listened to. Marrin, a GAO analyst and a doctoral candidate at the University of Virginia, is not very well known in Washington. But he's been busy writing freelance articles about intelligence reform and possesses a wealth of ideas and original insight. "He is a thinker," says Bob Heibel, a former FBI deputy chief of counter-terrorism. "Obviously, he understands what intelligence is about, and he's coming up with some very interesting ideas."
Marrin, a Colgate University graduate from Long Island, N.Y., entered the CIA fresh out of college in 1996 and worked as a junior analyst. He did not find the work particularly rewarding, but he began thinking about better ways of analyzing intelligence. One reform that Marrin believes should be considered is more fully developed "idea construction." In other words, whereas an academic might be too focused on theory, an intelligence analyst can become overly immersed in specifics, and both can often miss the big picture. Marrin's approach would seek a happy medium between the two poles, and he believes that the CIA's structure should accommodate this concept. For example, four junior analysts may be focused on different aspects of South Africa, but there may be nobody looking at the entire country; Marrin believes that analysis at that big-picture level is sorely needed.
Marrin is also proposing a professional association for intelligence officers, based on the model of the American Medical Association, as a way to develop more-qualified intelligence officers. A professional association, Marrin said, would make people think about "what makes that endeavor a profession, and then you go about creating entry standards and educational requirements. You have a group of people who are thinking, 'OK, what does this endeavor require of its participants?' "
Marrin also says one of his proposals led to creation of the CIA University, a part of the agency's Directorate of Intelligence. The university was founded in 2002, with courses in language, regional studies, and other related areas.
If intelligence is often guesswork, so is choosing its future architects. But it may not be too early to identify Marrin as a rising star.
Marrin, a Colgate University graduate from Long Island, N.Y., entered the CIA fresh out of college in 1996 and worked as a junior analyst. He did not find the work particularly rewarding, but he began thinking about better ways of analyzing intelligence. One reform that Marrin believes should be considered is more fully developed "idea construction." In other words, whereas an academic might be too focused on theory, an intelligence analyst can become overly immersed in specifics, and both can often miss the big picture. Marrin's approach would seek a happy medium between the two poles, and he believes that the CIA's structure should accommodate this concept. For example, four junior analysts may be focused on different aspects of South Africa, but there may be nobody looking at the entire country; Marrin believes that analysis at that big-picture level is sorely needed.
Marrin is also proposing a professional association for intelligence officers, based on the model of the American Medical Association, as a way to develop more-qualified intelligence officers. A professional association, Marrin said, would make people think about "what makes that endeavor a profession, and then you go about creating entry standards and educational requirements. You have a group of people who are thinking, 'OK, what does this endeavor require of its participants?' "
Marrin also says one of his proposals led to creation of the CIA University, a part of the agency's Directorate of Intelligence. The university was founded in 2002, with courses in language, regional studies, and other related areas.
If intelligence is often guesswork, so is choosing its future architects. But it may not be too early to identify Marrin as a rising star.
How do organizations ensure their analysis is objective? How can analysts produce relevant but unbiased products? What is the role of an analytic ombudsman? Register here: https://register.mitre.org/analytic-objectivity-symposium/
Research Interests:
Call for Papers for special issue of Intelligence and National Security on Early Warning, Intelligence Failures and Strategic Surprise Revisited, guest edited by Dr. Shay Hershkovitz & Dr. Ofek Riemer at sh1929@georgetown.edu &... more
Call for Papers for special issue of Intelligence and National Security on Early Warning, Intelligence Failures and Strategic Surprise Revisited, guest edited by Dr. Shay Hershkovitz & Dr. Ofek Riemer at sh1929@georgetown.edu & ofek.riemer@mail.huji.ac.il
Research Interests:
invites submissions for a special issue on Women in Intelligence. The issue aims to bring a greater depth of knowledge on women's contributions to intelligence activities throughout history. Women are often celebrated for playing... more
invites submissions for a special issue on Women in Intelligence. The issue aims to bring a greater depth of knowledge on women's contributions to intelligence activities throughout history. Women are often celebrated for playing important roles in intelligence, commonly starting with their formal participation in intelligence organisations during the First World War. However, research has demonstrated that they have participated in integral intelligence roles since the Middle Ages, yet their contributions have often been minimized, and their treatment within the workplace has been inequitable. Historically, intelligence work has been viewed as a male-dominated profession, and women have had to fight for recognition and respect. However, the reality is that women have made significant contributions to the field of intelligence far beyond their associated sexualized stereotypes, and their expertise and skills are essential for the success of intelligence operations. This special issue aims to provide a platform to add greater depth of knowledge on this understudied topic area, and to raise awareness about the vital role that women play in the field of intelligence. The journal of Intelligence and National Security is seeking research articles that explore the experiences of women who work in the intelligence community, as well as the contributions that they have made to the field. The special issue will also highlight the importance of diversity and inclusivity in the intelligence community. It is wellestablished that diverse teams are more effective than homogenous ones at solving complex problems, and this is particularly true in the intelligence field.
Research Interests:
Many insights can be derived by comparing the practices associated with national security intelligence to journalism. 2 Practitioners in both fields are engaged in the process of acquiring, evaluating and disseminating information and... more
Many insights can be derived by comparing the practices associated with national security intelligence to journalism. 2 Practitioners in both fields are engaged in the process of acquiring, evaluating and disseminating information and knowledge, if with one doing so within a governmental decision making process while the other sells the product to the public masses. Yet while references to the comparison have been scattered through the intelligence studies literature, no one has conducted a definitive evaluation of the utility of the analogy for either field. A comprehensive evaluation of the similarities and differences between the fields provides a foundation of knowledge for improved understanding of each.Similarities between the fields can be used to develop knowledge about best practices which can then be implemented to improve practices in either domain. Knowledge based on differences between the fields-which define the limits of the analogy-can be used to develop deeper understandings about intelligence analysis and its unique characteristics and challenges. This comparison of intelligence analysis to journalism is similar to other efforts to understand and improve intelligence analysis by learning from other disciplines to include psychology, medicine, law, economics, archaeology, and other fields. 3 This research program has been embraced by the US government as well as academic institutions. For example, in 2007 the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence held a conference on what can be learned for improving intelligence from other fields, and from 2009 to 2011 followed that up with workshops and reports through the US National Academy of Science addressing what can be learned from the behavioural and social sciences for the improvement of intelligence analysis. It also continues to fund many research projects through the US intelligence community's research arm (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity, or IARPA) some of which explore the value of analogous fields for improving intelligence analysis. 4 1 Many thanks to Aleksandra Bielska and Karolina Nachel for their very able and quite useful research assistance, as well as to Mercyhurst and Brunel Universities for their support.
Research Interests:
This is a call for papers and announcement of new editorship at the journal Intelligence and National Security
Research Interests:
Free conference near Washington DC on 25 April 2019. "Join INSA and universities from the National Capital Region Intelligence Studies Consortium (ISC), for an April 25 program focused on emerging threats, tools, and new methodologies in... more
Free conference near Washington DC on 25 April 2019. "Join INSA and universities from the National Capital Region Intelligence Studies Consortium (ISC), for an April 25 program focused on emerging threats, tools, and new methodologies in the intelligence arena. Founded in 2018 by the National Intelligence University, the ISC promotes communication and cooperation between government and academia." Link to register is here: https://www.insaonline.org/event/emerging-trends-new-tools-threats-and-thinking/
Research Interests:
After leaving CIA in 2000, this paper was written for graduate course at UVA in 2002.
Research Interests:
ISA conference paper from 2012
Research Interests:
See link to articles here:
http://explore.tandfonline.com/content/pgas/realtionship-between-intelligence-and-policymaking-tdoi
http://explore.tandfonline.com/content/pgas/realtionship-between-intelligence-and-policymaking-tdoi
Research Interests:
The purpose of this conference is to engage in a cross-disciplinary discussion about the value of learning from other fields to improve both the understanding and the practice of intelligence analysis. It will also create the network and... more
The purpose of this conference is to engage in a cross-disciplinary discussion about the value of learning from other fields to improve both the understanding and the practice of intelligence analysis. It will also create the network and infrastructure for an international research collaboration for the study of intelligence analysis. Intelligence, like journalism, involves the acquisition, evaluation, and dissemination of information. In 1949, Sherman Kent, described as the father of US intelligence analysis, said: "Intelligence organizations must also have many of the qualities of those of our greatest metropolitan newspapers. …They watch, report, summarize, and analyze. They have their foreign correspondents and home staff…. They have their responsibilities for completeness and accuracy-with commensurately greater penalties for omission and error.. . They even have the problem of editorial control…. Intelligence organizations (should) put more study upon newspaper organization and borrow those phases of it which they require." But the similarities between intelligence analysis and journalism are not unique. Professionals in other fields-including medicine, the social and behavioural sciences, history and historiography, anthropology and other disciplines engaged in ethnographic research, econometric forecasting, and legal reasoning-also face many similar challenges to those that exist in intelligence analysis, including: Difficulties acquiring information from a wide variety of sources Vetting and evaluating the information that is acquired Deriving understanding and meaning from that information Impact of deadlines, editing, and other production processes on accuracy of analysis and assessment Problems in dissemination and distribution to consumers or customers Managing relationship between producer and consumer (role, responsibility, independence & objectivity) Developing professional infrastructure (recruit, select, train, & develop personnel; code of ethics) Overcoming impact of changing technology and alternative information distribution systems How do practitioners in various non-intelligence fields overcome these kinds of challenges? How are their challenges similar to or different from those that exist in the intelligence arena? What can be learned from the comparison? This event has been funded through a grant from the Brunel University Research and Innovation Fund.
Research Interests:
Intelligence Analysis Program at James Madison University