Author(s): Ioan Codruţ LUCINESCU, Valentin STOIAN
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: December 31, 2015
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 14/2015
DOI:
Abstract
The article aims at harnessing the analytical power of theoretical models
employed in studying defection in favor of the enemy and use them to study Romanian
historical sources originating during the First World War. These models have been
developed in the United States during the 1950s and 60s and are used by this article to
study a very different case. The article’s main research question is „Can models
explaining reasons for defection developed in the US during the Cold War be applied on
behaviors detected in Romania at the beginning of the XX century?” The article answers
this question in the affirmative, showing how reasons for defection are, many times,
similar despite large differences in time and space.
The article’s first section relies on an exhaustive review of several theoretical
models, especially MICE. Further empirical studies have refined this simplification
of motivations, uncovering new potential reasons for betrayal such as the existence of
„divided loyalties” or of disgruntlement against one’s own organization. These represent
the analytical blueprint which is later applied on Romanian documents dating from
World War I.
The second part of the article employs an analytical approach to uncover
reasons for defection in Romania and its vicinity. It presents both cases of ethnic
Romanians who were Austro-Hungarian citizens and defected in favor of Romania, as
well as intelligence successes by the Austro-Hungarian enemy in Romania of that time.
The article concludes that the first cases are mainly motivated by „divided loyalties”
while the second was mostly caused by money and ideological reasons.
Keywords: defection, motivation, ideology, loyalty
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