IN SEARCH OF THEORY

At present intelligence-related research is an area in progress. James Der Derian argues that ‘[Intelligence is the] least understood and “undertheorized” area of international relations.’ I agree with Der Derian and suggest that the under-theorisation extends far beyond the intelligence role within international relations, and is valid in the social sciences for all research concerning intelligence. Although the research area is under-theorised, there are theories and theoretical concepts that may be productively used to better understand and bring new perspectives to intelligence in general and to intelligence analysis in particular. It is argued in this book that intelligence should not be viewed as sui generis, as is often done within intelligence research. Instead, established social theoretical concepts will be used to bring new insights to and investigate intelligence knowledge.

As discussed, the perspective of critical policy analysis emphasises that the knowledge (produced by the actors) within the policy process is influenced by ideas and assumptions formed within a discourse or paradigm. This implies that although knowledge in the policy process may be argued through factual arguments, additional approaches are needed. Hence, the critical policy analysis position emphasises the need to pay attention to how policy knowledge is produced, the assumptions and presuppositions on which it is based and the social context within which it is constructed.

In this chapter, I propose a theoretical framework for investigating intelligence knowledge production and the social context within which it is produced. In addition to the critical policy analytical perspective drawn upon in the introductory chapter, the theoretical framework is founded on ideas from New Institutionalism, socialised knowledge and critical discourse analysis.

A VIEW ON INSTITUTIONALISM

Since all knowledge is produced by individuals within a social context, we need to (theoretically) understand this social context. In a sense, all collective action is structured and ordered according to a set of accepted rules and practices within a social context. (An example of this is individuals coming together within an organisation such as the MUST with the aim of producing intelligence.) This situating of action in a structured social context may be conceptualised as an institution.