DOC Intelligence Elsewhere: Spies and Espionage Outside the Anglosphere by From Georgetown University Press in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy LaynieGreat for the study of mindsets other than common Western thinking.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Long Overdue; A Very Fine Start; More Can Be DoneBy Robert David STEELE VivasI am noticing this book primarily to recommend it at Phi Beta Iota; the Public Intelligence Blog. I strongly recommend the overview chapter that is provided free within 's Look Inside the Book feature.The focus of the book; on intelligence services outside Five Eyes (AU; CA; UK; US; NZ) and the major powers; is long overdue. This book is a very fine start; but it falls short on three fronts:01 Most of the authors are from the usual Western academic circles. While a few of the authors are new to me; on balance what I am looking for in a work of this potential importance is indigenous scholarship -- Gustavo Diaz on Spain; Joan Masiah from Trinidad and Tobago; Andrea Lodiero from Chile; are just a few names that come to mind.02 It lacks the blend of multiple studies from each region -- had I been the publishing editor I would have nurtured the lead editors in sponsoring a conference and assuring no fewer than 3-5 individual country studies for each region (Caribbean; Central America; South America; Africa; Central Asia; South Asia; Pacifica). I would have been much happier with at least three chapters from Africa; with South Africa and Nigeria being of particular interest. For South America in addition to Argentina I would want at a minimum Brazil and Venezuela.03 It lacks the necessary standardization of coverage across all of the country studies; such that each chapter can be relied upon to address how each country's varied elements of intelligence handle each of the INTs (HUMINT; OSINT; SIGINT; IMINT; MASINT); how they do processing; analysis; counterintelligence; covert action; how they each address oversight; civil liberties; intra-country sharing; consumer definition; regional information sharing; penetration by or dependence upon foreign intelligence (e.g. Chinese; Cuban; Iranian; Russian); are part of my comparative structure. I would be *especially* interested in lessons learned and success stories from countries that *cannot* substitute technology for thinking.The index is disappointing -- mostly a names index. In a pioneering work of this nature; where one is seeking to document commonalities and divergencies across multiple entities; the index -- and ideally an integrated supporting bibliography -- are essential.It would be asking too much to expect a first effort such as this to go beyond the government and study how the other seven tribes of information "do" (or generally do not do) intelligence (decision-support for most; dirty tricks for some); but I would certainly encourage the authors to consider hosting an annual conference that invites papers such that each country's intelligence can be looked at not only from a government perspective; but also academic; civil society (including labor unions and religions); commerce; law enforcement; media; military; and non-government/non-profit.From where I sit; the editors and contributing authors are to be commended for finally offering up such a collection; and to be encouraged to take the necessary steps to broaden and deepen the niche they can now claim. I could even see them doing a rainbow series (gold; brown; gray; red; police blue; orange; olive; and UN blue).If you are studying intelligence defined as secrets; spies; and dirty tricks; this book is a major original contribution and a must read. If you are interested in intelligence as decision-support; in all its forms; this book is a very small part of a larger mosaic thats has not been adequately documented -- I would be truly delighted if the editors made an effort to internationalize their author base and broaden their coverage.Ten other books I recommend to anyone interested in the topic of intelligence:Comrade Kryuchkov's Instructions: Top Secret Files on KGB Foreign Operations; 1975-1985Chinese Intelligence OperationsFriendly Spies: How America's Allies Are Using Economic Espionage to Steal Our SecretsWar by Other Means: Economic Espionage in AmericaTraitors Among Us: Inside the Spy Catcher's WorldKilling Hope: U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions Since World War II--Updated Through 2003Strategic Intelligence [5 volumes] (Intelligence and the Quest for Security) (v. 1-5)Routledge Companion to Intelligence StudiesNo More Secrets; No More Lies: A Handbook to Starseed Awakening (Sirian Revelations)Competitive Intelligence Advantage: How to Minimize Risk; Avoid Surprises; and Grow Your Business in a Changing WorldI want to emphasize how much I appreciate the publication of this book. The US-UK have been arrogant and ignorant for too long. In my own experience the French; Nordics; Dutch; and selected Asian countries have been vastly more competent (and subtle) at leveraging extended networks; and there is much we can learn from others.For those interested in my 300+ reviews of intelligence-related books; all connected to their respective page; search for Worth a Look: Book Reviews on Intelligence (Most).Best wishes to all;Robert David STEELE VivasON INTELLIGENCE: Spies and Secrecy in an Open World