ISP Welcomes Brumley Next Generation Fellows Taylor Ham and Nils Holst for the 2021-2022 Academic Year

Two Strauss Center for International Security and Law Brumley “Next Generation” Fellows will be conducting research in the coming academic year under the direction of ISP principals.

Public Attitudes on US Intelligence 2020 - ISP Survey Confirms Broad Popular Support, Reveals Opportunities for Greater Transparency

The Chicago Council on Global Affairs recently published the results from the fourth round of an annual poll sponsored by The University of Texas at Austin’s Intelligence Studies Project (ISP) that seeks to shed light on Americans’ perceptions of our intelligence agencies. The data from Summer 2020, along with selected graphics, a summary of the survey history and methodology as well as related policy analysis is available HERE. The survey was conducted and reported by ISP Director Steve Slick, Strauss Center for International Security and Law Distinguished Scholar Joshua Busby, and Clements Center for National Security Undergraduate Fellow Archit Oswal.

Implied Powers Podcast Posts New Episode on "Intelligence, Emerging Technologies, and Great Power Competition: A Discussion with Dr. John Beieler”

Listen to the latest installment of Implied Powers, “Intelligence, Emerging Technologies, and Great Power Competition: A Discussion with Dr. John Beieler.” In this episode, Dr. John Beieler, the Intelligence Community’s Director of Science and Technology, unpacks the discussion surrounding emerging technologies, S&T intelligence applications, and near-peer competition.

The podcast was created by UT-Austin undergraduate student and Clements Center Undergraduate Fellow, Patrick O'Connor.

Listen on Apple Podcasts HERE.

Call for Papers: 2022 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence

The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the 8th annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500. This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2021-22 academic year. The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2022.

Call for Papers: 2021 "Bobby R. Inman Award" for Student Scholarship on Intelligence

The Intelligence Studies Project of The University of Texas at Austin announces the seventh annual competition recognizing outstanding student research and writing on topics related to intelligence and national security. The winner of the “Inman Award” will receive a cash prize of $5,000, with two semifinalists each receiving a cash prize of $2,500. This competition is open to unpublished work by undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in degree programs at accredited U.S. higher education institutions during the 2020-21 academic year. The deadline for submitting papers is June 30, 2021.

ISP Participates in Task Force on Technology and Intelligence

The Center for Strategic and International Studies recently released Maintaining the Intelligence Edge: Reimagining and Reinventing Intelligence Through Innovation, the final report of a year-long Task Force convened to study the opportunities and obstacles to integrating emerging technologies into intelligence missions. The Task Force report and a link to the January 14, 2021 (virtual) briefing by the Task Force staff and commissioners is available HERE.

ISP Fellow Kiril Avramov and LBJ Master’s Candidate Ellery Cushman Co-Author Article “Eurosodom: Specifics of Weaponized Sexuality and Gender-Based Narratives in Contemporary Russian and Pro-Russian Disinformation”

ICONO 14, a bilingual (Spanish-English, Portuguese-English) journal focused on information and communication technologies, published this analysis on one particular aspect of Kremlin-sponsored political warfare: sexuality and gender-based narratives in Russian and pro-Russian disinformation campaigns targeting European Union and aspiring members from 2015-2020. The authors argue that the potency of these narratives arises from the emotional and cognitive load that they elicit. 

ISP Senior Fellow Contributes to LBJ School’s Policy Toolkit

Professor Paul Pope, a Senior Fellow with ISP, recently published an essay "Intelligence Lessons From COVID: Being ‘Right’ Is Not Enough" as part of the LBJ School’s “policy toolkit” on resiliency. In the essay, Professor Pope evaluates COVID as a potential intelligence failure and challenges the utility of the traditional “Intelligence Cycle” in assessing the performance of the intelligence community in warning of impending threats.

Impact of Prior Marijuana Use on IC Job Applications

Former IC official Charles Allen argued in the op-ed "Cannabis & Clearances: Unnecessarily Weeding Out Applicants" that IC agencies should either relax or standardize how security clearance applications are adjudicated when an applicant reports a history of drug use. We encourage students planning to apply for internships or full time positions with IC agencies to become acquainted with security regulations regarding use of marijuana and other drugs well before starting the application process.