Scientific research of intelligence failures: issues and controversy Cover Image

Znanstvena istraživanja pogrešaka obavještajnih službi: problemi i kontroverze
Scientific research of intelligence failures: issues and controversy

Author(s): Mirko Bilandžić, Tomislav Dokman
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Government/Political systems
Published by: LIBERTAS MEĐUNARODNO SVEUČILIŠTE
Keywords: intelligence studies; intelligence failures; intelligence services; decision-makers; science; science research;

Summary/Abstract: Intelligence failures have aroused the interest of the general scientific and professional public for the past eighty years and, according to certain estimates, are the most researched topic in the field of intelligence studies. The basic function of investigating intelligence failures is directed in particular towards improving intelligence activities, ie minimizing these failures as a whole. However, this area is characterized by the unavailability of primary data from the heart of the intelligence institution and direct insight into all phases of the intelligence process, which is controversial in the implementation of objective, impartial and cognitive scientific research. Despite the lack of primary data, scientists and experts in the field of intelligence studies use secondary sources that are the result of institutional investigations conducted by states after the occurrence of an intelligence failure. Therefore, this paper determines whether intelligence failures can be scientifically analysed, or whether these analyses have features of an expert analysis.

  • Issue Year: 20/2020
  • Issue No: 1-2
  • Page Range: 137-154
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Croatian