Course introduction

Dear students,

Games without frontiers is an advanced course in political science, in our lectures, we will introduce

Some political and operational basic concepts, and terminology paradigms influencing the intelligence cycle of external-national intelligence organizations could in democracies

In addition to classic intelligence studies, we will review Cybersecurity & Cyber intelligence aspects.

Each year we are focusing on one of the main external intelligence services, mainly as a case study. This year we will examine some aspects of the operation of the Israeli external intelligence services also known as Mossad. We will try to understand some of the mechanisms used by the Israeli government in order to control Mossad,  especially at a time that is being described more and more as post HUMINT.

1. Basic concepts of national intelligence organizations

Understanding the difference between foreign and internal intelligence services.

Current and classic technological concepts of intelligence work.

Human intelligence in the age of cyber. 

Information and disinformation. "A view to a kill"- differences between operating intelligence service in popular fiction versus Reality.

Operating foreign intelligence services within the framework of democratic states.

2. Operating intelligence services in democracies, new democracies, and autocracies 

          The legal framework in which foreign intelligence services are operating. 

          The question of subordination between the intelligence services and the political decision-makers, what actually is the chain of command?

           The relationships between political decision-makers (echelons) and the intelligence services, theoretical models versus practice.

3. Political oversight models over the intelligence 

Existing political control models over intelligence services, are they adequate to the challenges of the present?

           Cybersphere challenges, obstacles, or opportunities, regarding intelligence services oversight?

Up-to-date approaches of civic control over foreign intelligence services.

The role of the intelligence report to the political decision-makers within the intelligence cycle. Between personal and political ambiguity.

4.  Cyber intelligence:

        What is cyber security? Introduction: "Darknet", "social engineering" and “hacking” terminologies.

Introducing basic concepts of Cyber Warfare, Military Use, Deterrence, Countermeasures, and Counterattacks.

Reviewing some of the major methodologies and concepts guiding intelligence organizations. Focusing on political and ethical dilemmas, defining the framework of civic control and supervision over the intelligence services.

Examining the interaction between political decision-makers and intelligence services to identify patterns of decision-making and future possible models for cooperation between the state’s political elites and the intelligence professionals.

5. Who is afraid of the big bad Wolf?

 A short history of the Israeli Mossad, myth versus facts. What is the mechanism used by the Israeli government and parliament in order to oversight Mossad activities?