The Role of Intelligence in US Foreign Policy

4 Credits.

How do decisionmakers leverage intelligence to understand complex national security challenges? How are intelligence tools such as collection, covert action, and analysis used to advance US foreign policy objectives? This course explores the role of the US Intelligence Community in informing US policymakers, the relationship between intelligence and policy, and the challenges of delivering intelligence in an increasingly dynamic and polarized information environment. Employing case studies associated with the US war on terrorism, Iraq, Iran, and Vietnam, written exercises, and simulations, students will gain an understanding of the intelligence cycle, intelligence tools and tradecraft, and the value of intelligence as an independent stream of information to US policymakers in a representative democracy.