Last update: doc. PhDr. Vít Střítecký, M.Phil., Ph.D. (04.09.2019)
Intelligence is arguably one of the most powerful and also problematic tools of the modern state, and one applied not just to foreign policy and security affairs, but also areas as varied as economic strategy and law enforcement. However, the modern world increasingly poses complex challenges to both intelligence and counter-intelligence, ranging from the over-abundance of data to the need to balance the needs of the state and the rights of the individual. Furthermore, not only do modern states outsource a growing share of their intelligence activities to private agencies, but it is also increasingly evident that businesses and non-governmental agencies have their own intelligence assets, even if rarely described or recognized as such.
This course will explore the evolution and dimensions of modern intelligence and counter-intelligence, such that students will develop an informed appreciation of the capabilities and limitations of intelligence and its impact on the modern world. In short, we will explore how intelligence works, when and how it affects national policy and world affairs, and how it is changing.
