[Seminar 4] Insurgent intelligence: Studying the use of intelligence by non-state actors

MODERATOR: Dr. Majak D'Agoôt
GUEST EXPERT: Dr. David Strachan-Morris
RESPONDENTS: Brenda Githing'u & Dr. Temitope Abiodun

00:00:00 - Introduction by Dr. D'Agoôt
00:07:54 - "Theories of insurgent intelligence" by Dr. Strachan-Morris
00:25:33 - Commentary by Dr. D'Agoôt
00:27:05 - "Terrorist Organizations & Intelligence" by Brenda Githing'u
00:38:00 - Open Discussion/ Q&A session
01:06:30 - Concluding Remarks

The practice of intelligence is not limited to the machinery of a nation state alone, yet not much research or analysis has been directed towards the spycraft and tradecraft engaged in by non-state actors. The rise of 'private sector intelligence' in more recent years has only just begun to be interrogated by practitioners and academics. However, the use of intelligence by insurgents and other groups assembled to achieve varied forms of politico-military outcomes, has oft been overlooked. This is partly owed to a flawed preconception that Insurgent movements are not as highly bureacratized as corporate or state entities and therefore it is subsequently assumed that they lack the sophistication to produce intelligence. However, as the history of the Global Cold War has been more thoroughly scrutinsed, the strategic objectives of insurgents have been revealed to depend on well organized information gathering operations that feed into the tactical execution of their insurgency. 

[SeminarInsurgentintelligence: