This Week at ISN

29 Oct - 02 Nov 2012 Intelligence agencies have struggled to adapt to a world of open source technologies, information overload and a diverse range of new threats. This week, we consider how they have adapted their missions to address these challenges.

Intelligence - Adapting to the Threats

Intel's Rough Start to the 21st Century
29 Oct 2012

Multiple failures since the turn of the century have prompted critics of Western intelligence agencies to question their effectiveness. The path to redemption, argue Joshua Rovner and Prem Mahadevan, depends on improved relationships with policymakers and further adjustments to new threats. More Are We All Intelligence Agents Now?
30 Oct 2012

The growing availability of open source information has profoundly impacted intelligence agencies and how they have operated over the last 10 years. In this podcast, Chris Pallaris discusses the risks and opportunities that open source intelligence poses. He also describes what makes a good intelligence analyst in the open source era. More Information Sharing in a Post-9/11 World
31 Oct 2012

Sharing intelligence has always been driven by common interests, mutual trust and cooperative partnerships with like-minded agencies. In this question and answer session, the CSS Prem Mahadevan discusses the practical and strategic obstacles to this form of information sharing in the post 9/11 era. More Is Intelligence Reform Lagging in Europe?
01 Nov 2012

Intelligence reform in Europe has not necessarily coincided with ongoing democratization. As a result, argues Peter Gill, many intelligence agencies appear to be operating outside of established democratic norms, to include transparency and parliamentary oversight. More Intelligence Gathering and Reform: The Case of the United States
02 Nov 2012

US intelligence reform remains a work in progress. While the re-orientation of the FBI and the creation of the National Counterterrorism Center represent progress, the same may not be true for the Department of Homeland Security and the position of Director of National Intelligence, argues Gregory F Treverton. More

Security Watch
Europe's Defence in Times of Austerity: Spending Cuts as a One-Way Street?
29 Oct 2012

The Eurozone's prolonged financial crisis and resultant austerity measures have had a deep impact on defense spending. Marko Savkovi warns that without careful defense planning, the cuts will almost certainly undermine the credibility of Europes armed forces. More Malaysia, Thailand May Balk at Insurgency Resolution
30 Oct 2012

While Thailand believes that Malaysia may be able to negotiate a peace deal with Muslim insurgents operating on Kuala Lumpur's side of their border, Stratfor argues that traditional rivalries and regional sensibilities may undermine the political will needed to pursue peace talks. More Baltic Energy Security: Today's Historic Opportunity
31 Oct 2012

The Baltic States energy security policies have traditionally needed to tread carefully around Russias strategic calculations. However, according to the Atlantic Councils Matthew Bryza, by implementing EU energy reforms they will now be able to safeguard their supplies from further political blackmail. More Cte d'Ivoire: State Security Versus Security Sector Reform
01 Nov 2012

Eighteen months after the post-electoral crisis in Cte d'Ivoire, the country's security sector remains both a source of conflict and a key to peace. At present, however, pressing security considerations risk sending much-needed security sector reform down the wrong path, argues Arthur Boutellis. More Sri Lanka's Ongoing Struggle for Democracy
02 Nov 2012

Sri Lanka's civil society and public sector institutions are under threat. Because their independence is being systematically eroded by repressive government policies, Saliya Pieris argues that the international community needs to help buttress them up and ensure their survival. More

ISN Blog
Russia Conducts Large Security Operation In North Caucasus
29 Oct 2012

Russia recently conducted security operations in the North Caucasus region, resulting in the deaths of 49 militants. According to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, this suggests that the provinces of KabardinoBalkaria, Dagestan, and Ingushetia rather than Chechnya are the hub of Islamic militant activity. More Making Waves: Debates Behind China's First Aircraft Carrier
30 Oct 2012

Many Western observers remain interested in the symbolic nature of China's first aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, finally entering into service. However, Felix K Chang argues that China is much more concerned about the enormous costs and complexities of maintaining an aircraft carrier program. More Tajikistan: Potential Energy Boom Could Be Geopolitical Game-Changer
31 Oct 2012

Russia's dominance over Tajikistan's oil supplies may start to recede when the former Soviet republic begins its own drilling activities. A number of reports speculate, however, that domestic and international political pressure may stall Tajikistan's move towards energy independence. More Reviewing Pakistan's Peace Deals with the Taliban
01 Nov 2012

The rise of the Tehrik-i-Taliban in Pakistan has prompted Islamabad to seek a range of peace agreements with the insurgent group. The Combatting Terrorism Center's Daud Khattak examines the impact and effectiveness of these agreements on the internal security of Pakistan. More Engaging Boko Haram: Militarization, Mediation, or Both?
02 Nov 2012

Nigeria's government is tackling the expansion of Boko Haram in the country's north with increasing force. Akinola Olojo argues, however, that Abuja's heavy-handed approach may be exacerbating tensions and advocates a different approach force used together with concessions. More

Videos
A Conversation with Joshua Rovner The Strauss Center asks Joshua Rovner, Associate Professor at the US Naval War College, tough questions about US intelligence and national security. More

The Spread of Instability from Syria to Lebanon Stratfor Vice President of Global Analysis Reva Bhalla discusses the rising tensions in Lebanon and the country's relationship with Syria. More US Foreign Policy and the Presidential Election With the US presidential election just a week away, David Welch welcomes Philip Brenner, Professor, American University, to CIGI's Inside the Issues for a discussion on US foreign policy. More

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International Relations and Security Network (ISN) - Managing information, sharing knowledge. www.isn.ethz.ch The ISN is a service of the Center for Security Studies (CSS) at the ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich). If you would like to change your subscription profile, please do so at: http://www.isn.ethz.ch/Services/Newsletters. Contacts: List moderator ISN Secretariat