Intelligence forms a core research area of Strategic Studies. The dynamic security environment and technological transformations demand cross-disciplinary insights from cognate fields to develop a nuanced understanding in intelligence studies. The scholarly reflection is largely confined to the West whereas research from the Global South remains abysmal. This article explores factors hindering the emergence of Intelligence Studies in India, both as an academic discipline and a potential research area, by analysing course syllabi of select universities and legal provisions.
The Occasional Paper employs the dharmic viewpoint of the Mahabharata to derive the fundamental elements of ancient Indian strategic thought. It evaluates the role of dharma as it shapes war as a defining element of strategic thought.
Uttam Kumar Sinha replies:In the last three decades, increasing globalisation, development of capitalism, and deregulation policies have radically transformed the mass media, which includes international news broadcasts, television, film, and music. What used to be relatively national in scope has now become a competitive catchment of global audiences.
In the late 1950s, the concept of 'political culture' was first developed. Towards the end of the Cold War, scholars in International Relations (IR) theory and security studies developed the concept of 'strategic culture'. Over a period, state bureaucracies were thematised by scholars of comparative politics leading to the concept of 'bureaucratic culture'. Lastly, in the second decade of the twenty-first century, a comparative turn in intelligence studies began to emerge with the concept of (national) 'intelligence culture'.
Unless the armed forces and the security establishment take a singular approach to warfighting, which includes evolving a singular concept of warfighting, identifying threats and challenges, and medium and long-term capability development goals, differences that make headlines will continue to recur time and again.
Kishore Kumar Khera replies: Physically, there are just three ways to connect - land, water and air. And these three mediums are also used to perceive and project power. Mahan and Mackinder based their theories on the centrality of seas and landmass respectively. And now airpower has come into play in a major way.
Ashok Behuria replies:In international politics today, the term ‘strategic partnership’ is being regarded as an alternative to the old ‘alliance’ system, which characterised interstate politics during the Cold War.
Alok Deb replies: The three Service Chiefs are invitees on various select committees constituted at the highest levels of government, which strategise on national security matters.
The various connectivity projects put forward by India show its involvement as an investor in capacity-building efforts in the recipient countries across sectors of their particular needs and choices, not as an overarching and imposing economic power.
What Should Define Integration of Armed Forces?
Unless the armed forces and the security establishment take a singular approach to warfighting, which includes evolving a singular concept of warfighting, identifying threats and challenges, and medium and long-term capability development goals, differences that make headlines will continue to recur time and again.