Clear Thinking

In the aftermath of recent intelligence failings and the ongoing war on terror, the world's intelligence services are earnestly reassessing the skills and technologies needed to meet today's security challenges. Despite decades of investment, the technological golden bullet that would allow them to make sense of today's security-relevant data remains elusive. It is against this backdrop that the value, potential and risks of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) are garnering unprecedented attention in both the public and private sector. Arguably, OSINT and its related disciplines are fundamentally reshaping the interplay between international affairs, security, technology, and information. The multiplicity of interests and actors active in this field has made OSINT one of the most interesting and progressive debates in the international relations and security domains. This book: A? Explores the origins and evolution of OSINT since the end of the Cold War A? Examines its application in the worlds of intelligence, law enforcement, defense, policymaking, academia and the private sector A? Surveys the tools, technologies and tradecraft that inform the practice of OSINT today A? Analyzes the relationship between OSINT and related disciplines such as information and knowledge management, organizational learning, and library science Capturing the latest thinking on this topic, this volume of leading researchers, advocates and practitioners is intended to be both a primer on open source intelligence and a snapshot of the current state of affairs.