Description
Book SynopsisVolume One of the Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee draws upon a range of released and classified papers to produce the first, authoritative account of the way in which intelligence was used to inform policy.
For almost 80 years the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) has been a central player in the secret machinery of the British Government, providing a co-ordinated intelligence service to policy makers, drawing upon the work of the intelligence agencies and Whitehall departments. Since its creation, reports from the JIC have contributed to almost every key foreign policy decision taken by the British Government. This volume covers the evolution of the JIC since 1936 and culminates with its role in the events of Suez in 1956.
This book will be of much interest to students of intelligence studies, British politics, international diplomacy, security studies and International Relations in general.
Dr Michael S. Goodman is Reader in Intelligence an
Trade Review
'Michael Goodman’s The Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee: Volume I (Routledge) should help make up for the neglect in spy literature of the JIC. The alpha and omega of intelligence bureaucracy, it influences what spies spy on and interprets their reports for policymakers. Well written and wisely judged, this first volume takes us through the second world war to Suez.' --Alan Judd, Spectator ‘Books of the Year’
'The Official History of the Joint Intelligence Committee Volume I is a valuable study for understanding the JIC specifically and intelligence history more broadly. ...The book [...] is strong with its focus on intelligence products, rather than dwelling on the personalities of the nine JIC chairs during this period. It is recommended to both academics and the general public interested in intelligence history, security studies and international relations of the period.' -- Ryan Shaffer, Journal of Intelligence History, Vol. 16, 1, 2017
Table of ContentsForeword by Jon Day Glossary Introduction Part I: Origins, 1936-1939 1: Why Joint Intelligence? 2: Building a Foundation Part II: War, 1939-1945 3: The Onset of War: 1939-1940 4: Stabilisation: 1941-1942 5: Preparing for the End, 1943-1945 Part Three: New Threats, 1945-1957 6: A New Identity, 1945-1957 7: Creating a World-Wide Intelligence Network 8: Changing Enemies: The Rise of the Soviet Union, 1945-1947 9: The Bear: The Emergence and Stabilisation of the Cold War, 1947-1957 10: Studying the Soviet War Machine 11: War in the Far East: Part I – Conflict in China and Korea 12: War in the Far East: Part II – Problems n the Colonies 13: Adventures in the Middle East: Part I – The Rise of Nationalism 14: Adventures in the Middle East: Part II – The Suez Crisis Conclusion
