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The Ethics of National Security Intelligence Institutions: Theory and Applications

The Ethics of National Security Intelligence Institutions: Theory and Applications

Hardcover

Series: Studies in Intelligence

PhilosophyGeneral Political ScienceInternational Relations

ISBN10: 0367617560
ISBN13: 9780367617561
Publisher: Routledge
Published: Mar 19 2024
Pages: 288
Weight: 1.16
Height: 0.63 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English

This book explores the ethics of national security intelligence institutions operating in contemporary liberal democracies.

Intelligence collection by agencies such as the CIA, MI6, and Mossad involves practices that are apparently inconsistent with the principles of ordinary morality - practices such as lying, spying, manipulation, and covert action. However, in the defence of national security, such practices may not only be morally permissible, but may also under some circumstances be morally obligatory. One approach to the ethics of national security intelligence activity has been to draw from the just war tradition (so-called 'just intelligence theory'). This book identifies significant limitations of this approach and offers a new, institutionally based, teleological normative framework. In doing so, it revises some familiar principles designed for application to kinetic wars, such as necessity and proportionality, and invokes some additional ones, such as reciprocity and trust. It goes on to explore the applications of this framework and a revised set of principles for national security intelligence institutions and practices in contemporary and emerging political and technological settings.

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International Relations