It is a paradox that at a time when the ordinary citizen of a democratic country is probably under more surveillance than ever before, he or she has access to more information than ever about the intelligence services. As the editor points out, this process, so essential to the compilation of a reliable reference book, has been greatly assisted by the recent declassification of so many documents in the USA and other countries. But he recognizes that even now, these sources may be tainted, and that differing views may be held about the same facts, though the accuracy of these has been checked as far as possible. The contributors include both former intelligence agents and academic experts, and no attempt has been made to reconcile the varying interpretations of controversial topics. A contributor from the Association of Former Intelligence Officers cannot be expected to share the views of one from Amnesty International. The US nationality of most of the writers certainly has not inhibited many of them from making highly critical remarks on the various misdeeds, foreign or domestic, of the American intelligence services. The editor explains that the principal interest of the 400 articles (ranging from 500 to 10,000 words) is in the twentieth century and that for earlier periods he has been “selective”; he does not say how, but he has given precedence to the USA and to a lesser extent Britain.
While the Introduction states that “our approach is biographical and historical, not theoretical”, this is perhaps too sweeping a statement, since in fact there are substantial articles on many of the general principles and methods of intelligence, both historical and contemporary (though espionage is a surprising omission). The majority of articles are either on famous spies (some still living) and politicians who made particular use of intelligence, or on notable intelligence operations and historical events influenced by them. For the twentieth century, the aim has been comprehensive geographical coverage, so that, for instance, there is a detailed account of what is known of Chinese intelligence in the period.
There are occasions where a heavier editorial hand would have been an advantage. One contributor invents the neologism “a kudo” (which he takes as the singular of the supposedly plural “kudos”). Another refers, several times, to Edward I as King of Great Britain when he was, of course, King of England. Harold Wilson is said to have been Prime Minister from 1947 to 1957 rather than 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976. Other articles, through careless use of language, give the impression that Michael Collins led the Easter Rising and that Count von Stauffenberg and other leaders of the German resistance to Hitler were Austrians. Such errors are disappointing, especially in a field where precise facts are of paramount importance.
The supplementary material begins with a chronology of intelligence from ancient times to July 2004, though three‐quarters of it deals with the twentieth century. It is alarming to see, in what is meant to be an authoritative work, the inclusion of a supposed event in 1267 BCE, taken from the entirely mythical annals of ancient Ireland. There is a bibliography, mostly of recent books and a few internet sites, with relevant journals being mentioned by their titles only. In addition, nearly every article has its own bibliographical references, sometimes including websites. The index is repeated in each volume. An appendix contains substantial extracts from the report of the US Congressional inquiry into the events of 11 September 2001, and the intelligence shortcomings associated with them. There are numerous photographs, but no diagrams, although these might have been helpful when describing the organization of intelligence services.
Not surprisingly, the Encyclopedia regales its readers with remarkable facts. Who would have thought that the first classified document is a Mesopotamian tablet from 1880 BCE, or that aerial surveillance was first practiced by the medieval Japanese, using manned kites? More recently, we find that in 1973, the Australian Attorney‐General, who was in charge of the country's intelligence service, sent agents to raid its own headquarters when he suspected it was concealing evidence from him (it was, and the evidence remained hidden). But the more mundane, and important, aspects of intelligence account for the major part of this substantial Encyclopedia, which throws light on many of the murkier corners of international affairs, and will therefore be of use in reference libraries interested in that more general field as well as the specialized one to which it is devoted.
