Understanding Intelligence in Global Affairs: An Introduction
Geopolitical - Diplomatic - International Relations - Economic -Territorial - Social Intelligence
Published on 2. May 2025
978-1-326-47709-7 (ISBN)
Description
We live in an era defined by interconnected crises, rapid change, and strategic ambiguity.
Intelligence in global affairs helps actors anticipate shifts, manage complexity, and respond strategically to both risks and opportunities.
Intelligence is no longer optional-it is essential in preventing conflict, navigating climate diplomacy, or managing trade or technological rivalry.
The integration of Intelligence Studies into the field of Global Affairs marks a pivotal evolution in how we interpret, navigate, and respond to an increasingly complex world. This development reflects a growing recognition that intelligence is not solely the domain of spies, secrecy, or high-stakes espionage. Rather, it is a strategic, anticipatory, and interpretive practice that supports decision-making across diplomatic, economic, territorial, social, and security contexts.
In the past, intelligence was largely perceived as a closed, state-centric activity-confined to surveillance, covert operations, or military applications. Today, intelligence functions across multiple domains and actors: from states to international organizations, NGOs to private corporations, and even digital communities. Its role is not only to collect information but to make sense of global developments, assess emerging risks, and inform strategic choices in an age of uncertainty, interdependence, and disruption.
This introductory study is written for a broad audience - students, scholars, analysts, policymakers, and globally engaged readers who seek a clear, accessible, and structured understanding of intelligence in the international arena.
Purpose of This eBook
. To offer a foundational overview of how intelligence functions within contemporary global affairs
. To bridge the gap between traditional intelligence studies and the wider field of international relations and global governance
. To encourage holistic thinking about global strategy, threat perception, and decision-making under complexity
Who Is This eBook For?
. Students and educators in International Relations, Security Studies, Political Science, and related disciplines
. Professionals and practitioners in diplomacy, development, economics, and defense
. Analysts and researchers seeking to understand the intelligence dimensions of global changes
. Curious readers with an interest in how the world works-and how it is interpreted
More details
Content
Table of Contents
Introduction
Understanding Intelligence in Global Affairs
Chapter 1 - Understanding Global Affairs
Defining global affairs as a complex, multidisciplinary system
Strategic analysis in turbulent contexts
Expanding intelligence domains: epistemic and interpretive practices
Hybrid warfare and cyber diplomacy as emerging threats
Implications for intelligence
Chapter 2 - Intelligence in Global Affairs: An Overview
Geopolitical, diplomatic, economic, territorial, and social intelligence
Why these dimensions matter in 21st-century global affairs
Foundations from Aldrich, Jervis, Bakir, Newman, Farrell & others
Chapter 3 - Geopolitical Intelligence: History and Applications
From classical empires to Cold War and digital complexity
Key techniques, clusters, and strategic uses
Contemporary relevance of geopolitical thinking
Chapter 4 - Geopolitical Intelligence as Strategic Compass
State capabilities: military, economic, technological, cultural
Regional power balances and alliance systems
Resource competition: Critical Minerals & Brazil's Role
Border disputes and sovereignty claims
Strategic chokepoints: The Arctic Case
Policy Brief: The Arctic as a Strategic Frontier
Chapter 5 - Diplomatic and International Relations Intelligence
From antiquity to cyber diplomacy
Diplomatic intelligence models and practice
Multilateral diplomacy and strategic foreign policy
Short Cases: Restoring the Iran Deal, Israel's Nuclear Posture
Chapter 6 - Economic Intelligence
Defining the field and its strategic relevance
Applications in finance, trade, and global risk
Geopolitical dynamics of economic flows
Chapter 7 - Territorial Intelligence: Mapping Control
Sovereignty, mobility, and space in global politics
Smart territories and digital geographies
Case Study: Russia-Ukraine War (2022-2025)
Territorial disputes and intelligence asymmetries
Chapter 8 - Social Intelligence: Human Signals in Power Dynamics
Social signals, narratives, and strategic communication
Case: The Arab Spring
Ethics, tools, and myths of surveillance
Concluding Remarks
Reflections and future directions
List of Figures
Fig. 1: Conceptual Model of Intelligence in Global Affairs
Fig. 2: Conceptual Model of Geopolitical Intelligence
Fig. 3: Conceptual Model of Diplomatic and Intl Relations Intelligence
Fig. 4: Conceptual Model of Economic Intelligence in Global Affairs
Fig. 5: Conceptual Model of Territorial Intelligence in G Affairs
Fig. 6: Conceptual Model of Social Intelligence in G Aff
