Relations between Intelligence Services and Policy Makers: An Analysis of Challenges and Their Causes
Volume 7, Issue 1 (2009), pp. 11–28
Pub. online: 11 November 2009
Type: Article
Open Access
Open Access
Published
11 November 2009
11 November 2009
Abstract
This article addresses the relations between intelligence services and political institutions in democratic countries and overviews the main causes of both challenges and the tensions between these issues. The purpose of this publication is to analyze the relations between intelligence services and political institutions of contemporary democratic countries, to determine the fundamental challenges and disagreements of these institutions and to offer suggestions on how to avoid, or at least to reduce, these challenges and their affect on the intelligence activities.
The main dilemmas in these relationships are caused by an insufficient understanding of the role, capabilities, and limitation of intelligence. This is why the article starts with the analysis of the tasks of intelligence and determines its definition. The article deals with the main problems arising in the relationship between intelligence services and political institutions: the lack of clear priorities and requirements provided to the intelligence services; deficiencies in 'feedback'; the over-familiarity or, on the contrary, absence of interaction in the relationship; and the politicization of intelligence.
Whilst acknowledging the inevitable challenge of politicians seeking to affect the process of intelligence, this article aims to avoid the negative effect of politicization of intelligence. It offers a solution to create systematic relations based on confidence and a professional understanding of each other's different responsibilities, capabilities and restrictions. The emphasis is on the balanced divide between domains of politics and intelligence.