LEAD 395(S) Intelligence and National Security (Same as Political Science 295)

September 11 and the war in Iraq have focused attention on the U.S. intelligence community. The failure to prevent the terrorist attacks led to a barrage of criticism, highlighted by the report of the 9/11 Commission. The mistaken estimate of Iraqi WMD led to another wave of condemnation. As a result, Congress legislated sweeping organizational changes to the community, and scholars began to revisit basic questions: What is the relationship between intelligence and national security? How does it influence foreign policy? Is covert action consistent with American values? And how can the United States collect intelligence without sacrificing civil liberties? This seminar provides an overview of the theory and practice of American intelligence. It details the sources and methods used by collectors and the relationship between intelligence agencies and policymakers. It also contains a history of the U.S. intelligence community and evaluates the ongoing efforts to reform it. Finally, it discusses the uneasy role of intelligence in a modern democracy. Format: seminar. Requirements: two very short papers, a 15-page research paper, and a midterm exam.
No prerequisites. Enrollment limit: 15 (expected: 10-15). Preference given to Political Science majors and Leadership Studies concentrators.

Hour: ROVNER