What Do Leaders Ask of Intelligence? Theorizing Policymaker Demand for Intelligence During Crises

45 Pages Posted: 24 Mar 2017

See all articles by Cullen Nutt

Cullen Nutt

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Political Science

Date Written: March 23, 2017

Abstract

What explains variation in policymaker demand for intelligence? When do policymakers request “just the facts?” When do they also solicit the judgments of intelligence agencies? In making their requests, why do policymakers sometimes adopt intrusive postures toward intelligence agencies and at other times treat them deferentially? In this paper, I develop a very preliminary typology of policymaker demand for intelligence. I derive hypotheses from existing International Relations theories to explain why policymakers adopt certain patterns of demand for intelligence during crises. I discuss the important effects of these patterns of demand on intelligence effectiveness and overall decision-making. Finally, I explore potential ways to test the theory empirically.

Keywords: intelligence, crisis decision-making

Suggested Citation

Nutt, Cullen, What Do Leaders Ask of Intelligence? Theorizing Policymaker Demand for Intelligence During Crises (March 23, 2017). MIT Political Science Department Research Paper No. 2017-10, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2939883 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2939883

Cullen Nutt (Contact Author)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Department of Political Science ( email )

77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
155
Abstract Views
665
Rank
343,436
PlumX Metrics