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Crime and Intelligence Analysis: Politicization of Intelligence

This research guide contains information-- both current and historical--on the topic of intelligence. Areas covered include intelligence collection, the intelligence cycle, and also topics such as counterintelligence and cyber intelligence.

What Does Politicization of Intelligence Mean?

Politicization can be described as the shading of analysis to fit prevailing policy or politics.  

Politicization of Intelligence occurs when intelligence analysis is skewed, either deliberately or inadvertently, to give policymakers the results they desire. There are generally three most well-documented ways in which finished intelligence can be corrupted:

  • Intelligence analysts can be pressured to emphasize findings that support policies and preferences, or ignore issues that don't support these policies
  • Policymakers clearly express what they want to hear and what they don't want to hear
  • Estimates can be skewed for personal advancement

 

 (From James J. Drylie's Intelligence document, www.kean.edu)

Recommended Books

Online Articles

Betts, R. K.  (2004, May 2).  Intelligence looks broke, but does it need fixing?  The Baltimore Sun.  Link to source

Betts, R. K.  (2011, May 2).  The "Politicization" problem.  The New York Times.  Link to source

Eddington, P. G.  (2015, August 31).  Politicization of intelligence: Lessons from a long, dishonorable history.  Just Security.  Link to source

Goodman, M. A.  (2008, March).  The CIA and the perils of politicization.  Center for International Policy.  Link to source

Hayden, M.  (2015, September 24).  Politicization of intelligence on Islamic State fight.  Washington Times.  Link to source

Jervis, R.  (2013, April 24).  Iran: How intelligence and policy intersect (WP 257).  Rajaratnam School of International Studies.  Link to source

Moretti, R.  (2016).  The psychological puzzle: Contributing factors to the top-down politicization of intelligence.  Elements, 12(1).  Link to source

Rovner, J. R.  (2008).  Intelligence-policy relations and the problem of politicization (Doctoral thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology).  MIT Libraries.  Link to source

Schake, K.  (2013, April 25).  The Obama administration’s troubling history of politicizing intelligence.  Foreign Policy.  Link to source

Stephens, B. A.  (2010).  A hedge against politicization: An impartial intelligence community for America (Master's thesis, U.S. Army War College).  Defense Technical Information Center.  Link to source

Tomes, R.  (2015, September 29).  On the politicization of intelligence.  War on the Rocks.  Link to source