'Herman has written the most complete in-depth study of intelligence yet to appear. A former British intelligence officer … he combines practical experience with astute and sophisticated academic understanding to produce a book that should become the basic intelligence text and a professional bible.' J. D. Stemple, Choice

Intelligence services form an important but controversial part of the modern state. Drawing mainly on British and American examples, this book provides an analytic framework for understanding the 'intelligence community' and assessing its value. The author, a former senior British intelligence officer, describes intelligence activities, the purposes which the system serves, and the causes and effects of its secrecy. He considers 'intelligence failure' and how organisation and management can improve the chances of success. Using parallels with the information society and the current search for efficiency in public administration as a whole, the book explores the issues involved in deciding how much intelligence is needed and discusses the kinds of management necessary. In his conclusions Michael Herman discusses intelligence's national value in the post-Cold War world. He also argues that it has important contributions to make to international security, but that its threat-inducing activities should be kept in check.

Introduction
Part I. Evolution and Outline: 1. Antecedents
2. Organizations
3. Resources, stages and subjects
Part II. Components and Boundaries: 4. Collection sources
5. Collection characteristics
6. All-source analysis and assessment
7. Boundaries
Part III. Effects: 8. Intelligence and national action
9. International action
10. Intelligence and security
11. Intelligence threats
12. Intelligence cooperation
Part IV. Accuracy: 13. Failure and remedies
14. Problems of defence intelligence
15. Top level assessment
Part V. Evolution and Management: 16. The production process
17. Managing the community
18. The agency manager
Part VI. The 1990s and Beyond: 19. National importance
20. International dimensions
Part VII. Summary: 21. Modern intelligence power.

Subject Areas: Espionage & secret services [JPSH]