Policymakers and Intelligence Reform in the New Democracies
Abstract
In all democratic systems, intelligence reform is a ‘‘Gordian knot’’ that
incessantly tests decisionmakers. The onus is on them to develop and
maintain intelligence systems that protect democracy and are
democratically accountable, while, at the same time, engage in secret operations. This challenge has no clear solution. As experts at the Geneva
Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) put it, ‘‘the
nature of intelligence is such that the balance between secrecy and
democracy will always be a delicate one to strike.’’1 In well-established
democracies, policymakers have developed mechanisms to tackle the
‘‘democracy–intelligence’’ dilemma, yet these mechanisms are relentlessly
being revised and reworked. In new democracies, however, decision makers
must create these mechanisms from ground zero, and do not always
succeed in balancing effectiveness with transparency. In those that do
succeed, decision makers face numerous challenges, yet they may, after long
and protracted endeavors, eventually manage to accommodate effectiveness
and transparency. Both interest and willingness (whether self-initiated or
due to outside pressure and=or incentives) on the part of policymakers are
paramount in successful intelligence reform.
Description
The article of record as published may be located at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08850607.2011.598784
Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.Collections
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