BSS154 Introduction to Study of Intelligence Services

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
RNDr. Petr Zeman (lecturer), prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
prof. JUDr. PhDr. Miroslav Mareš, Ph.D.
Division of Security and Strategic Studies – Department of Political Science – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Mgr. Lucie Pospíšilová
Timetable
Wed 10:00–11:40 U41
Prerequisites
POL104 Introduction into Pol. Sc. || BSS104 Methodology of SSS || MVE101 Introduction to Intl. Rel. || SOUHLAS
The course is taught at Bachelor study program. Prerequisites: BSS 101, or POL 104, or MVE 101; depending on students study field.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 30 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/30, only registered: 0/30, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/30
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 14 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The main objectives of this course are: to be acquainted with basic concepts and procedures of intelligence activities in general and especially in the modern de-mocratic society; to be informed of different intelligence services as a part of a executive branch of government and of their relationships with other governmen-tal bodies in the frame of security of state. Students should be able to understand and to explain the basic terms, basic paradigms and methods of intelligence acti-vities. Considerations of some problematic aspect of intelligence are outlined in the second half of this course: eg. ethic and legal questions; relation between in-telligence professionals and politically partisan bodies; intelligence as a cultural phenomenon, etc. Students should be able to explain contemporary trends in transformations of intelligence services. At the end of this course student should be able to see intelligence without its "mythology" in more realistic manner.
Syllabus
  • 1. and 2. Introduction and frames of this course. Sources for study. Basic data on Czech Intel. services. Intelligence studies as a part of security studies. 3. and 4. Definitions of intelligence. Basic principles and limitations of intelligen-ce. Typology of intell. services and their relations to other governmental bodies 5. and 6. Intelligence cycle and its variables. Methods of collection of intelligence OSINT, HUMINT, SIGINT and others. Their advantages and problems. Agent and informers. 7. Needed qualities of intel. information. Processing them, anylyzing them. The way from clue to evidence. 8. Working fields of contemporary intel. and security services. 9. and 10. Transformation of nature of intell. services in the last 35 years From 70-ties to the end of Cold War. Subsequent development and changes after 9/11. Contemporary and future trends. Legal affairs, legal statutes and accountability. 11. Introduction to external oversight on intell. services. 12. Intelligence and its image in fiction and pop culture.
Literature
  • Extended valid List of literature is in the IS MU
  • ZETOCHA, Karel. Zpravodajské služby v nové demokracii: Česká republika (Intelligence Services in the New Democracy: Czech Republic). Brno: Fakulta sociálních studií MU, 2009, 246 pp. Vydání I. ISBN 978-80-210-5004-4. info
  • DROGIN, Bob. Curveball : špionáž, podvodník a lži, ktoré spôsobili vojnu. Translated by Roman Mezencev. Banská Bystrica: PRO, 2008, 350 s. ISBN 9788089057238. info
  • CHURAŇ, Milan. Encyklopedie špionáže : ze zákulisí tajných služeb, zejména Státní bezpečnosti. 2. přeprac. a aktualiz. vyd. Praha: Libri, 2000, 431 s. ISBN 8072770209. info
Teaching methods
Lectures, class discussions, homework (writing of essays).
Assessment methods
Students are bound to undergo subsequently 1) short written test on terminology; 2) then homework essay; after the course 3) oral examination.All parts of exam are necessary.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Pro studenty politologie je podmínkou absolutorium POL104, pro studenty mezinárodních vztahů je podmínkou absolutorium MVE 101. O zápisu studentů jiných oborů rozhoduje vyučující.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2005, Autumn 2006, Autumn 2007, Autumn 2008, Autumn 2010.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/autumn2009/BSS154