Intell/Info & Challenge of Globalization

Course Information

Registration Information

Meeting Times

Day Time Location
MON 2:00 - 5:00 pm SRH 3.109

Description

Class meets September 8-October 6. From the 9/11 terrorist attacks to the intervention in Iraq and the expansion of warrantless surveillance, in recent years we have seen growing debate over the use and misuse of intelligence in policymaking. But the challenge of collecting, analyzing, sharing and using information, both public and "secret", is critical not only to traditional national security problems, but to a broad range of transnational public policy issues - from pandemic disease to global financial stability to climate change. Nor is the federal government the only producer or consumer of policy-relevant intelligence - both the private sector and NGOs increasingly play a central role both in collecting critical information and using it to shape their own strategies. This course will examine some of the fundamental issues in understanding the role of information in policymaking, from such core questions as what it means to "know" something in a policy context, to how information can be effectively used - or misused - in shaping policy decisions, and how to deal with the challenges of uncertainty. We will look at who collects/produces "intelligence" and how they do so; how to assess the value of analytic products (including the role of "experts"); and the interactions between intelligence producers and intelligence users. We will look not only at the contemporary debates over intelligence community reform at the national level, but also how international organizations, business and the advocacy sectors use information and intelligence. The class will feature guest speakers, including current and former officials from the intelligence and policy communities, and from the non-governmental sphere. Assignments will focus on short written memos and role playing.

Instructors

Headshot of Steinberg, James B Steinberg, James B
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