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Sharing Secrets : Explaining International Intelligence Cooperation

Fägersten, Björn LU (2010) In Lund Political Studies
Abstract
Why has multilateral cooperation developed in the intelligence field? Prior research has deemed such cooperation unlikely, irrelevant or even dangerous due to low gains and high risks. However, multilateral intelligence cooperation both exists and seems to be on the increase. This study aims to explain this puzzling development.

Drawing on institutional theory, the author advances a model of international intelligence cooperation. The model is applied to the development of multilateral intelligence cooperation in Europe. Based partly on a unique set of interviews with intelligence officers from eleven states, three cooperative forums are analyzed in detail: Europol, the EU Situation Centre and the Counterterrorism Group. The... (More)
Why has multilateral cooperation developed in the intelligence field? Prior research has deemed such cooperation unlikely, irrelevant or even dangerous due to low gains and high risks. However, multilateral intelligence cooperation both exists and seems to be on the increase. This study aims to explain this puzzling development.

Drawing on institutional theory, the author advances a model of international intelligence cooperation. The model is applied to the development of multilateral intelligence cooperation in Europe. Based partly on a unique set of interviews with intelligence officers from eleven states, three cooperative forums are analyzed in detail: Europol, the EU Situation Centre and the Counterterrorism Group. The author finds that apart from state preferences, the development of intelligence cooperation is largely determined by the self-interest and culture of national agencies, international institutional entrepreneurship and the way power-asymmetries are mirrored in the design of cooperative arrangements. As well as generating a more thorough understanding of the costs and benefits of international intelligence cooperation, the study offers important insights into future directions of cooperation and its connection to both national security and international policy-making. (Less)
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author
supervisor
opponent
  • Professor Tallberg, Jonas, Stockholm University
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Intelligence Cooperation, Historical Institutionalism, Rational Choice Institutionalism, Europol, SitCen, CTG, EU, European External Action Service, European Union, Intelligence
in
Lund Political Studies
issue
161
pages
267 pages
publisher
Lund University
defense location
Edens Hörsal, Paradisgatan 5 H, Lund
defense date
2010-12-04 10:15:00
ISBN
978-91-88306-80-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c6072c5b-0a67-4361-898e-412ebb75c627 (old id 1716233)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:13:54
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:05:16
@phdthesis{c6072c5b-0a67-4361-898e-412ebb75c627,
  abstract     = {{Why has multilateral cooperation developed in the intelligence field? Prior research has deemed such cooperation unlikely, irrelevant or even dangerous due to low gains and high risks. However, multilateral intelligence cooperation both exists and seems to be on the increase. This study aims to explain this puzzling development.<br/><br>
Drawing on institutional theory, the author advances a model of international intelligence cooperation. The model is applied to the development of multilateral intelligence cooperation in Europe. Based partly on a unique set of interviews with intelligence officers from eleven states, three cooperative forums are analyzed in detail: Europol, the EU Situation Centre and the Counterterrorism Group. The author finds that apart from state preferences, the development of intelligence cooperation is largely determined by the self-interest and culture of national agencies, international institutional entrepreneurship and the way power-asymmetries are mirrored in the design of cooperative arrangements. As well as generating a more thorough understanding of the costs and benefits of international intelligence cooperation, the study offers important insights into future directions of cooperation and its connection to both national security and international policy-making.}},
  author       = {{Fägersten, Björn}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-88306-80-7}},
  keywords     = {{Intelligence Cooperation; Historical Institutionalism; Rational Choice Institutionalism; Europol; SitCen; CTG; EU; European External Action Service; European Union; Intelligence}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{161}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund Political Studies}},
  title        = {{Sharing Secrets : Explaining International Intelligence Cooperation}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}