1st Edition

Intelligence Analysis in the Digital Age

Edited By Stig Stenslie, Lars Haugom, Brigt H. Vaage Copyright 2022
    194 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    194 Pages 1 B/W Illustrations
    by Routledge

    This book examines intelligence analysis in the digital age and demonstrates how intelligence has entered a new era.

    While intelligence is an ancient activity, the digital age is a relatively new phenomenon. This volume uses the concept of the "digital age" to highlight the increased change, complexity, and pace of information that is now circulated, as new technology has reduced the time it takes to spread news to almost nothing. These factors mean that decision-makers face an increasingly challenging threat environment, which in turn increases the demand for timely, relevant, and reliable intelligence to support policymaking. In this context, the book demonstrates that intelligence places greater demands on analysis work, as the traditional intelligence cycle is no longer adequate as a process description. In the digital age, it is not enough to accumulate as much information as possible to gain a better understanding of the world. To meet customers’ needs, the intelligence process must be centred around the analysis work – which in turn has increased the demand for analysts. Assessments, not least predictions, are now just as important as revealing someone else’s secrets.

    This volume will be of much interest to students of intelligence studies, security studies, and international relations.

    Foreword

    Kjell Grandhagen

    Acknowledgments

    1. Introduction: An old activity in a new age

    Stig Stenslie, Lars Haugom & Brigt Harr Vaage

    2. The historical backdrop

    Sir David Omand

    3. Intelligence as decision-making support

    Espen Barth Eide

    4. The necessity of experts

    Stig Stenslie

    5. Open-Source and Social Media Intelligence

    Bjørnar Sverdrup-Thygeson & Vegard Engesæth

    6. Analysing with artificial intelligence

    Lars Haugom, Cato Hemmingby & Tore Pedersen

    7. Warning of hybrid threats

    Patrick Cullen & Njord Wegge

    8. Futures and forecasting

    Kristian C. Gustafson

    9. Capturing the customer’s attention

    Lars Haugom

    10. Avoiding politicisation

    Wilhelm Agrell

    11. Being ethically conscious

    Kira Vrist Rønn

    12. Conclusion: Towards an analytic-centric intelligence process

    Brigt Harr Vaage & Knut Magne Sundal

    Biography

    Stig Stenslie is Professor at the Center for Intelligence Studies at the Norwegian Defence Intelligence School (NORDIS), Norway.

    Lars Haugom is Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Defence Establishment.

    Brigt Harr Vaage is Director of Operations in the Norwegian Intelligence Service (NIS). He was Director of the NIS’ Analysis and Assessment Division (2014-2020).

    'This work is a masterful treatise on the subject of intelligence, and I consider it a must-read for either the interested citizen or expert practitioner—whether Norwegian or American.'-- James R. Clapper, Former US Director of National Intelligence