Statecraft and
Intelligence

Statecraft and intelligence

The Statecraft & Intelligence program focuses on the increasingly important role of intelligence in the conduct of statecraft, particularly in an Australian context.

Research topics include intelligence history; the impact of popular culture on public understanding (and misunderstanding) of intelligence matters; emergent and emerging issues and challenges facing intelligence services internationally and in Australia; international comparisons and lessons; and the place of intelligence agencies (and their oversight and organisation) in democracies.

The program aims to:

  • Conduct and publish valued research on intelligence matters
  • Prepare suitable policy inputs on intelligence issues
  • Conduct a range of activities to increase the understanding of intelligence among the Australian community (and to encourage development of national expertise in intelligence)
The Australian Government commissions a review of its intelligence community every five to seven years. With July 2023 marking six years since release of the last review’s report and, with funding already allocated in this year’s federal budget, the next one is likely to commence shortly. The best starting place for the forthcoming review is the work that precedes it, so reflection on 2017’s Independent Intelligence Review proves valuable. This report, Informing Australia’s next independent intelligence review, reflects on the experiences of the 2017 review and the implementation of its recommendations, and draws lessons to inform the terms of reference, approach and suggested focus of the next review. In doing so the report identifies three broad topics upon which the next review can most profitably ground its work: attracting, building and retaining a skilled workforce; adapting to rapid and profound technological change; and leveraging more, and closer, partnerships. It also highlights how the past six years have raised important and challenging questions in relation to each of those broad topics and identifies opportunities to further advance the future performance of the National Intelligence Community. In addition, specific recommendations are made to inform government’s planning and preparation for the new review.https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/magnify-glass-inspects-paper-documents-gm949099606-259097519

Informing Australia’s next independent intelligence review: learning from the past

The Australian Government commissions a review of its intelligence…
Visualisation of a radio signal coming from a mobile phone in a data filled scene, iStockphoto, peterhowell.https://www.istockphoto.com/photo/phone-signal-in-a-data-matrix-city-gm967078012-263819956

Collaborative and agile. Intelligence community collaboration insights from the United Kingdom and the United States

The central aim of this report is to generate insights from…
asis-interviews-bannerASPI 2020

The ASIS Interviews

The ASIS Interviews is a series of interviews with the Director-General…

Statecraft and intelligence Experts