SECRET LIAISONS- A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY OF UNITED STATES INTERAGENCY INTELLIGENCE COOPERATION

Abstract

My thesis sought to establish the most significant factors that influence cooperation between US intelligence agencies. Specifically, it examined the key drivers that prompted these secretive entities to either work together or shun collective action. Imperfect US interagency intelligence cooperation is actually an enduring policy problem that can be traced back to the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. Using grounded theory research as my methodology, I evaluated 12 major historical cases for insights. Ranging from the Pearl Harbour attack in 1941 to 9/11 in 2001, these case studies reveal a pattern that is highly consistent over time and space. Crucially, US interagency intelligence cooperation was found to be largely instrumentally-oriented although informal norms were also significant. On the other hand, interagency competition and excessive secrecy were found to be important drivers of unilateral action on the part of US intelligence agencies.