An Introduction to Intelligence Studies and Intelligence History - Einzelansicht

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In Germany, an intelligence service has traditionally been thought of as a political secret police. Here its beginnings lay in Imperial Germany, here its inglorious culmination came during the two German dictatorships and here lay its origin and legacy for the democratic intelligence services. Thus the understanding of what an intelligence service does and should do is quite different from current academic theories and definitions. The English concept of ”intelligence” describes both the clandestine collection, analysis and dissemination of information, as well as the (secret) knowledge so produced. Dealing with intelligence services in a rigorous and scientific way – called ”intelligence studies” and ”intelligence history” in the Anglophone world since the 1940s – has almost no equivalent in Germany. If the Historical or the Political Sciences devote themselves to this topic at all, it happens under the paradigm of reconciliation with the past (”Geschichtsaufarbeitung”). This course is an introduction to the discipline of intelligence studies and intelligence history. Starting from the theories on the nature and functions of intelligence services, it will first give an overview over the most common models on operations, oversight and regulation of intelligence services. Then follows an overview over the development and the possibilities of intelligence history, with a focus on the history of the German intelligence services from Imperial Germany to the present.

Contrary to the previous announcement this class WILL NOT BE HELD bi-weekly! The lecturer offers the possibility to meet via Moodle-chat and zoom-video-chat every Friday (except for May 1st.!) for a live-chat to discuss the topic of the day. These sessions will not exceed a maximum of 90 minutes (duration will depend on student’s interests and questions). The lecturer or a volunteer student will start out by giving an overview presentation about the session’s topic, followed by a discussion. Further questions might be asked by every participant via email or Moodle’s chat-program.

The first virtual meeting at Moodle & Zoom will be held on Friday, 24. April, at 14.00 o’clock (sharp / sine tempore)! All further organizational matters will be discussed during the first session.