Modern Intelligence History from John Buchan to James Bond

This course examines the role of diplomatic and military intelligence in the making of policy. We will explore some of the most significant international events of the 20th century in light of the contribution of both covert and overt intelligence, focusing on the histories of several of the major 20th century intelligence organizations. The course will not be concerned with the intricacies of trade craft, but with the interplay between intelligence and policy. In our final week, we will consider the correlation between the growth of intelligence communities, their legitimization, and delegitimization, and the popular image of spying represented contemporaneously in fiction and film.