Author(s): Cristina POSAŞTIUC
Publication name: Romanian Intelligence Studies Review
Publisher name: Mihai Viteazul National Intelligence Academy
Publication type: Journal article
Publication date: June 30, 2015
Pagination:
Issue/ Volume: 13/2015
DOI:
Abstract:
The goal of this paper is to explore the potential of using sociological paradigms
as analysis frameworks within the intelligence tradecraft. Although macro-oriented
theoretical systems (e.g. structuralism, functionalism, conflict theories) have tried and
tested uses in intelligence, especially when it comes to making sense of large-scale
phenomena, events and trends, there is still little attention given to the paradigm of
symbolic interactionism. At first glance, intelligence analysis has little to gain,
knowledge-wise, from an empirically untestable scientific perspective which deals with
the social micro-cosmos. Nevertheless, keeping in mind the fact that societal systems are
constantly negotiated, consolidated and reformed through the most minuscule of daily
interactions, understating the latter can help paint a correct picture of the “shared
reality” of large or small groups at any given moment. I believe that intelligence
practitioners can use insight derived from symbolic interactionism to better apply their
tradecraft in an extensive palate of cases. Moreover, in an increasingly virtualized social
universe, human interactions take new forms and generate new types of shared
meanings and symbols, altogether changing the very social structure that fosters them.
For intelligence practitioners that operate online, from all-source strategic analysts to
OSINTers and SOCMINTers, understanding how this new medium emerges is of the
utmost importance.
Keywords: symbolic interactionism, intelligence analysis, collective behavior,
observer-expectancy effect, OSINT.
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