Managing national security and law enforcement intelligence in a globalised world

This article argues that there are five major challenges currently facing Westernintelligence communities. First – ensuring skills retention for intelligence officers andanalysts, while developing knowledgeable managers and customers, all in an increasinglycomplexsecurity environment. Second – instituting and inculcating knowledge and expertisein these staff – while addressing an opponent in al-Qaeda which demonstrates increasinglysophisticated use of IT, new media, etc. Third – drawing-in outside expertise from theresearch and business communities, as is done currently in the US and Canada but in onlya very limited manner in the UK. Fourth – overcoming institutional rigidity in dividing theforeign and domestic – alongside rigid sharing and co-operation relationships. Fifth –creating truly collaborative environments that offer genuine socio-cultural incentives tocollaboration rather than mere ‘IT solutions