The issue of politization in the intelligence community

The problem of the presence of politization in the intelligence

community is known since the start of gathering and analyzing the

intelligence data, as human beings are prone to stereotypes and biases.

More notably, the politization was seen in the United States in context of for

instance the Missile Gap1, Vietnam War2, and viewings on the Nixon–

Kissinger conception of détente3. Politization is thus not a new phenomenon

in the XXI century.

To start with, the definition of politization shall be outlined. The

elements that are present in all the definitions include the deliberation (will)

of the person conducting the analysis and making a judgement to move into

a direction favoring a specific point of view, not taking into consideration all

the evidence. The “classic” politization is believed to occur when the analysis

favors the opinion of policy makers. Others add that politization is a result of

management’s activities that put emphasis to deliver specific analysis.

1
Cia.gov. (2018). What was the Missile Gap? | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov). [online] Available at:
https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/what-was-missile-gap [Accessed 27 Mar.
2018].
2
Eddington, P. (2018). Politicization of Intelligence: Lessons From a Long, Dishonorable
History. [online] Just Security. Available at: https://www.justsecurity.org/25709/politicization-
intelligence-long-dishonorable-history/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].
3
Prde.upress.virginia.edu. (2018). Nixon and Arms Control. [online] Available at:
http://prde.upress.virginia.edu/content/nixon_SALT [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

1
Furthermore, it might be also the situation when other standpoints are

limited4.

Bibliography

1. Cia.gov. (2018). [online] Available at:

https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/kent-

csi/volume-36-number-1/pdf/v36i1a01p.pdf [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

2. Cia.gov. (2018). What was the Missile Gap? | CIA FOIA (foia.cia.gov).

[online] Available at:

https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/collection/what-was-missile-

gap [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

3. Eddington, P. (2018). Politicization of Intelligence: Lessons From a

Long, Dishonorable History. [online] Just Security. Available at:

https://www.justsecurity.org/25709/politicization-intelligence-long-

dishonorable-history/ [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

4. Prde.upress.virginia.edu. (2018). Nixon and Arms Control. [online]

Available at: http://prde.upress.virginia.edu/content/nixon_SALT

[Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].

4
Cia.gov. (2018). [online] Available at: https://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-
intelligence/kent-csi/volume-36-number-1/pdf/v36i1a01p.pdf [Accessed 27 Mar. 2018].