For your topic, you must choose an intelligence operation or covert operation (o
For your topic, you must choose an intelligence operation or covert operation (or a series of related operations) and assess its success and/or failure and the reasons for the success and/or failure. For the purpose of this class, we define intelligence operations as all intelligence activities that are part of the conduct of policy. In other words, it is policy action conducted by the state through institutions that possess intelligence functions. More specifically, intelligence operations will define intelligence as action, more offensive and less defensive. It includes: political action, covert and clandestine operations, counterintelligence and counterespionage, influence and deception operations, counterterrorism and related surreptitious activities performed by the state to pursue its conception of the national interest (See Lesson 1 for more details).
For this assignment, you must:
1. Read and consider the readings and links provided.
2. Select a topic suitable for the class that you would like to know more about, that is researchable, and that can lead to the development of an effective research question and thesis.
3. Write a paragraph on it.
4. Provide a properly formatted reference for preliminary sources.
Here are some places and topics where you can consider (there are plenty more). However, keep in mind that not everything called an “operation” is an intelligence operation as defined in this class. Some of them are plain military actions. Select on the links below:
With regard to success or failure, that can be determined based on the criteria that you determine most appropriate for the case. There are a number of ways to evaluate the cases. Consider the approaches mentioned in Meharg (2009), as well as the applicability of the national interest as discussed in Neuchterlein (2001). Please note that you do not have to state your evaluation criteria for the topic selection. However, you will have to consider it for the research design. This also applies to research methods. To achieve your goal you should develop a research question that can lead you to a suitable thesis.