Researching National Security Intelligence: Multidisciplinary Approaches - Paperback

by Stephen Coulthart (Editor), Michael Landon-Murray (Editor), Damien Van Van Puyvelde (Editor)

Researchers in the rapidly growing field of intelligence studies face unique and difficult challenges ranging from finding and accessing data on secret activities, to sorting through the politics of intelligence successes and failures, to making sense of complex socio-organizational or psychological phenomena. The contributing authors to Researching National Security Intelligence survey the state of the field and demonstrate how incorporating multiple disciplines helps to generate high-quality, policy-relevant research. Following this approach, the volume provides a conceptual, empirical, and methodological toolkit for scholars and students informed by many disciplines: history, political science, public administration, psychology, communications, and journalism. This collection of essays written by an international group of scholars and practitioners propels intelligence studies forward by demonstrating its growing depth, by suggesting new pathways to the creation of knowledge, and by identifying how scholarship can enhance practice and accountability.

Back Jacket

International Affairs/ National Security / Social Sciences

"This is the first single volume exploration of intelligence studies methods. Interdisciplinary and bringing together both scholars and practitioners, it is an important contribution and will have a major impact."- Richard Aldrich, Leverhulme Major Research Fellow, professor of politics and international studies, University of Warwick

"Well written, insightful, and multidisciplinary, the essays combine into an indispensable assessment of scholarly research on the workings of secret spy agencies in the democratic societies."- Loch K. Johnson, Regents Professor, Department of International Affairs, University of Georgia

"An impressive study that illustrates the broad range--but also the limits--of the field of intelligence studies today."- Erik Dahl, associate professor, Department of National Security Affairs, US Naval Postgraduate School

Researchers in the rapidly growing field of intelligence studies face unique and difficult challenges ranging from finding and accessing data on secret activities, to sorting through the politics of intelligence successes and failures, to making sense of complex socio-organizational or psychological phenomena. The contributing authors of Researching National Security Intelligence survey the state of the field and demonstrate how incorporating multiple disciplines helps to generate high-quality, policy-relevant research. The volume provides a conceptual, empirical, and methodological toolkit for scholars and students informed by many disciplines: history, political science, public administration, psychology, communications, and journalism. This collection of essays propels intelligence studies forward by demonstrating the field's growing depth, by suggesting new pathways to the creation of knowledge, and by identifying how scholarship can enhance practice and accountability.

Stephen Coulthart is an assistant professor of security studies in the National Security Studies Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Michael Landon-Murray is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Damien Van Puyvelde is a lecturer in intelligence and international security at University of Glasgow.

Contributors: Rubén Arcos, Ross Bellaby, Rick Caceres-Rodriguez, Stephen Coulthart, Misty Duke, Brent Durbin, John Ferris, Michael Landon-Murray, Paul Lashmar, David R. Mandel, Stephen Marrin, Bridget Rose Nolan, Mark Phythian, Damien Van Puyvelde

Author Biography

Stephen Coulthart is an assistant professor of security studies in the National Security Studies Institute at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Michael Landon-Murray is an assistant professor in the School of Public Affairs (SPA) at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs.

Damien Van Puyvelde is a lecturer in intelligence and international security at University of Glasgow.