The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures

A substantive contribution to the field of Intelligence Studies on a continent scarcely explored by scholarship … The editor leaves it to the expertise and knowledge of the chapter authors to contribute diverse perspectives, methodologies, and sources to study national cases. This is a strength of the volume ... It provides the reader with a view from cultural studies to understanding cultures of intelligence services. * African Security Review *
“As the return of the Great Power competition means that Africa is again a contested landscape for terrorist networks and competing global powers, this important handbook on Africa’s intelligence services fills a gap in intelligence literature on Africa, and contextualizes the necessary and shadowy world of intelligence.” -- Christopher P. Costa, , International Spy Museum executive director and former special assistant to the U.S. President and senior director for counterterrorism at the U.S. National Security Council.
“This welcome new compendium by a range of leading academics globally provides an authoritative overview of the intelligence picture of every African country from a range of perspectives – historical, contemporary, issue-specific, cultural, and so on – and includes many countries whose intelligence set-ups have never been assessed in English previously.” -- Kevin A. O’Brien, Visiting Senior Research Fellow, Department of War Studies, King’s College London and author of The South African Intelligence Services: From Apartheid to Democracy, 1948–2005.
“By examining the current intelligence services of African countries, this work represents a valuable contribution to understanding a too-often neglected topic. It serves as an important springboard for more detailed examinations of African intelligence services, their evolution, and the roles they play in their respective societies.” -- Glenn A. Cross, Author of Dirty War: Rhodesia and Chemical Biological Warfare, 1975–1980.
. . . provid[ing] what academics and journalists require if they are to enquire into this area: a first port of call in understanding a complex subject . . . a weighty summary of the scholarly knowledge on the subject . . . important resources for anyone interested in the important role of intelligence across the continent. * Intelligence and National Security *
… useful to academics and practitioners. Researchers, calling for more contributions from non-western perspectives, will welcome these edited volumes as springboards for deeper dives into the intelligence cultures of individual nations, or to develop their own comparative assessments. Governments and intelligence analysts, too, will find the volumes valuable. * International Affairs *
The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures makes a vital contribution to knowledge of the internal dynamics of the state and external pressures of foreign actors shaping African intelligence cultures, their current situations, and challenges. * International Journal of Intelligence and Counterintelligence *
The Handbook of African Intelligence Cultures should be studied by any scholar looking at how intelligence operations and organizations vary according to culture and national circumstances, and also by any intelligence professional who is planning on taking up a post in Africa, which is one of the world’s most important battle-grounds in the struggle for influence between the West, Russia, and China. It would also be very useful for any seller of intelligence software, services, training or equipment and technology wishing to map the vectors of business opportunity. African culture is far more complex than one might expect, and this volume should help prepare the professional for the type of unfamiliar and tricky terrain in which they will be expected to work. * Journal of Strategic Security *
...a comprehensive exploration of intelligence cultures in Africa, covering all African countries comprehensive exploration of intelligence cultures in Africa, covering all African countries. * Journal of Central and Eastern European African Studies *