Intelligence

From Secrets to Policy
Tenth Edition
Mark M. Lowenthal - Intelligence & Security Academy, LLC
Intelligence
August 2025 | 664 pages | CQ Press
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Description

Now in its landmark Tenth Edition, Mark M. Lowenthal’s trusted guide, Intelligence, is the go-to resource for understanding how the intelligence community’s history, structure, procedures, and functions affect policy decisions. In the new edition, the author addresses the implications of new technologies like artificial intelligence, the intensified great power competition around the world, and updates in cyber intelligence, as well as offering significant updates in the chapter on foreign intelligence services.

Contents

List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

Preface

Preface

Acronyms

  • Chapter 1: What Is “Intelligence”?
  • Why Have Intelligence Agencies?
  • What Is Intelligence About?
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 2: The Development of U.S. Intelligence
  • Major Themes
  • Major Historical Developments
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 3: The U.S. Intelligence Community
  • Alternative Ways of Looking at the Intelligence Community
  • The Many Different Intelligence Communities
  • Intelligence Community Relationships That Matter
  • The Intelligence Budget Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 4: The Intelligence Process—A Macro Look: Who Does What for Whom?
  • Requirements
  • Collection
  • Processing and Exploitation
  • Analysis and Production
  • Dissemination and Consumption
  • Feedback
  • Thinking About the Intelligence Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 5: Collection and the Collection Disciplines
  • Overarching Themes
  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 6: Analysis
  • Major Themes
  • Analytical Issues
  • Intelligence Analysis: An Assessment
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 7: Counterintelligence
  • Internal Safeguards
  • External Indicators and Counterespionage
  • Problems in Counterintelligence
  • Leaks
  • Economic Espionage
  • National Security Letters
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 8: Covert Action
  • The Decision-Making Process
  • The Range of Covert Actions
  • Issues in Covert Action
  • Assessing Covert Action
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 9: The Role of the Policy Maker
  • The U.S. National Security Policy Process
  • Who Wants What?
  • The Intelligence Process: Policy and Intelligence
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 10: Oversight and Accountability
  • Executive Oversight Issues
  • Congressional Oversight
  • Issues in Congressional Oversight
  • Internal Dynamics of Congressional Oversight
  • The Courts
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 11: The Intelligence Agenda: Nation-States
  • The Primacy of the Soviet Issue
  • The Emphasis on Soviet Military Capabilities
  • The Emphasis on Statistical Intelligence
  • The “Comfort” of a Bilateral Relationship
  • Collapse of the Soviet Union
  • Intelligence and the Soviet Problem
  • The Current Nation-State Issue
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 12: The Intelligence Agenda: Transnational Issues
  • U.S. National Security Policy and Intelligence After the Cold War
  • Intelligence and the New Priorities
  • Cyberspace
  • Foreign Malign Influence
  • Terrorism
  • Proliferation
  • Health Issues
  • Climate Change
  • Narcotics
  • Economics and Energy
  • Demographics
  • Support to the Military
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 13: Ethical and Moral Issues in Intelligence
  • General Moral Questions
  • Issues Related to Collection and Covert Action
  • Analysis-Related Issues
  • Oversight-Related Issues
  • Whistle-Blowers
  • The Media
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 14: Intelligence Reform
  • The Purpose of Reform
  • Issues in Intelligence Reform
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 15: Foreign Intelligence Services
  • Britain
  • China
  • France
  • Israel
  • Russia
  • Other Services
  • Other Services in Brief
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Appendix 1: Additional Bibliographic Citations and Websites
  • Appendix 2: Major Intelligence Reviews or Proposals

Index

Index

Additional materials

Description

Now in its landmark Tenth Edition, Mark M. Lowenthal’s trusted guide, Intelligence, is the go-to resource for understanding how the intelligence community’s history, structure, procedures, and functions affect policy decisions. In the new edition, the author addresses the implications of new technologies like artificial intelligence, the intensified great power competition around the world, and updates in cyber intelligence, as well as offering significant updates in the chapter on foreign intelligence services.

Contents

List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes

Preface

Preface

Acronyms

  • Chapter 1: What Is “Intelligence”?
  • Why Have Intelligence Agencies?
  • What Is Intelligence About?
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 2: The Development of U.S. Intelligence
  • Major Themes
  • Major Historical Developments
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 3: The U.S. Intelligence Community
  • Alternative Ways of Looking at the Intelligence Community
  • The Many Different Intelligence Communities
  • Intelligence Community Relationships That Matter
  • The Intelligence Budget Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 4: The Intelligence Process—A Macro Look: Who Does What for Whom?
  • Requirements
  • Collection
  • Processing and Exploitation
  • Analysis and Production
  • Dissemination and Consumption
  • Feedback
  • Thinking About the Intelligence Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 5: Collection and the Collection Disciplines
  • Overarching Themes
  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 6: Analysis
  • Major Themes
  • Analytical Issues
  • Intelligence Analysis: An Assessment
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 7: Counterintelligence
  • Internal Safeguards
  • External Indicators and Counterespionage
  • Problems in Counterintelligence
  • Leaks
  • Economic Espionage
  • National Security Letters
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 8: Covert Action
  • The Decision-Making Process
  • The Range of Covert Actions
  • Issues in Covert Action
  • Assessing Covert Action
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 9: The Role of the Policy Maker
  • The U.S. National Security Policy Process
  • Who Wants What?
  • The Intelligence Process: Policy and Intelligence
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 10: Oversight and Accountability
  • Executive Oversight Issues
  • Congressional Oversight
  • Issues in Congressional Oversight
  • Internal Dynamics of Congressional Oversight
  • The Courts
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 11: The Intelligence Agenda: Nation-States
  • The Primacy of the Soviet Issue
  • The Emphasis on Soviet Military Capabilities
  • The Emphasis on Statistical Intelligence
  • The “Comfort” of a Bilateral Relationship
  • Collapse of the Soviet Union
  • Intelligence and the Soviet Problem
  • The Current Nation-State Issue
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 12: The Intelligence Agenda: Transnational Issues
  • U.S. National Security Policy and Intelligence After the Cold War
  • Intelligence and the New Priorities
  • Cyberspace
  • Foreign Malign Influence
  • Terrorism
  • Proliferation
  • Health Issues
  • Climate Change
  • Narcotics
  • Economics and Energy
  • Demographics
  • Support to the Military
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 13: Ethical and Moral Issues in Intelligence
  • General Moral Questions
  • Issues Related to Collection and Covert Action
  • Analysis-Related Issues
  • Oversight-Related Issues
  • Whistle-Blowers
  • The Media
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 14: Intelligence Reform
  • The Purpose of Reform
  • Issues in Intelligence Reform
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 15: Foreign Intelligence Services
  • Britain
  • China
  • France
  • Israel
  • Russia
  • Other Services
  • Other Services in Brief
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Appendix 1: Additional Bibliographic Citations and Websites
  • Appendix 2: Major Intelligence Reviews or Proposals

Index

Index

Additional materials

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Intelligence

From Secrets to Policy

Mark M. Lowenthal
Cancel Print

August 2025 | 664 pages | CQ Press

Format Published Date ISBN Price

Now in its landmark Tenth Edition, Mark M. Lowenthal’s trusted guide, Intelligence, is the go-to resource for understanding how the intelligence community’s history, structure, procedures, and functions affect policy decisions. In the new edition, the author addresses the implications of new technologies like artificial intelligence, the intensified great power competition around the world, and updates in cyber intelligence, as well as offering significant updates in the chapter on foreign intelligence services.

Table Of Contents:

  • List of Figures, Tables, and Boxes
  • Preface
  • Acronyms
  • Chapter 1: What Is “Intelligence”?
  • Why Have Intelligence Agencies?
  • What Is Intelligence About?
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 2: The Development of U.S. Intelligence
  • Major Themes
  • Major Historical Developments
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 3: The U.S. Intelligence Community
  • Alternative Ways of Looking at the Intelligence Community
  • The Many Different Intelligence Communities
  • Intelligence Community Relationships That Matter
  • The Intelligence Budget Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 4: The Intelligence Process—A Macro Look: Who Does What for Whom?
  • Requirements
  • Collection
  • Processing and Exploitation
  • Analysis and Production
  • Dissemination and Consumption
  • Feedback
  • Thinking About the Intelligence Process
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 5: Collection and the Collection Disciplines
  • Overarching Themes
  • Strengths and Weaknesses
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 6: Analysis
  • Major Themes
  • Analytical Issues
  • Intelligence Analysis: An Assessment
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 7: Counterintelligence
  • Internal Safeguards
  • External Indicators and Counterespionage
  • Problems in Counterintelligence
  • Leaks
  • Economic Espionage
  • National Security Letters
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 8: Covert Action
  • The Decision-Making Process
  • The Range of Covert Actions
  • Issues in Covert Action
  • Assessing Covert Action
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 9: The Role of the Policy Maker
  • The U.S. National Security Policy Process
  • Who Wants What?
  • The Intelligence Process: Policy and Intelligence
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 10: Oversight and Accountability
  • Executive Oversight Issues
  • Congressional Oversight
  • Issues in Congressional Oversight
  • Internal Dynamics of Congressional Oversight
  • The Courts
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 11: The Intelligence Agenda: Nation-States
  • The Primacy of the Soviet Issue
  • The Emphasis on Soviet Military Capabilities
  • The Emphasis on Statistical Intelligence
  • The “Comfort” of a Bilateral Relationship
  • Collapse of the Soviet Union
  • Intelligence and the Soviet Problem
  • The Current Nation-State Issue
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 12: The Intelligence Agenda: Transnational Issues
  • U.S. National Security Policy and Intelligence After the Cold War
  • Intelligence and the New Priorities
  • Cyberspace
  • Foreign Malign Influence
  • Terrorism
  • Proliferation
  • Health Issues
  • Climate Change
  • Narcotics
  • Economics and Energy
  • Demographics
  • Support to the Military
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 13: Ethical and Moral Issues in Intelligence
  • General Moral Questions
  • Issues Related to Collection and Covert Action
  • Analysis-Related Issues
  • Oversight-Related Issues
  • Whistle-Blowers
  • The Media
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 14: Intelligence Reform
  • The Purpose of Reform
  • Issues in Intelligence Reform
  • Conclusion
  • Key Terms
  • Further Readings
  • Chapter 15: Foreign Intelligence Services
  • Britain
  • China
  • France
  • Israel
  • Russia
  • Other Services
  • Other Services in Brief
  • Conclusion
  • Further Readings
  • Appendix 1: Additional Bibliographic Citations and Websites
  • Appendix 2: Major Intelligence Reviews or Proposals
  • Index

Recent Product Reviews:

Lowenthal's book is a standard bearer for how to introduce and inform students about the mission, structure, and complexities inherent in the intelligence field. The book does not have an equal in its real-world depth.
Greta E. Creech, The Citadel
Intelligence: From Secrets to Policy is a must-read for anyone with an interest in the US intelligence community.
Thomas J. Badey, Randolph-Macon College
Mark Lowenthal continues to refine an essential textbook for the next generation of intelligence students. Whether you aspire to work in government, serve on the staff of a national leader, or simply make the best possible decisions, you will benefit from this foundational understanding of intelligence.
Michael David Miner, Harvard University
This is an impactful text for attracting some of the very best students to careers in intelligence.
James Calder, University of Texas at San Antonio

Recommendations