Democratic Accountability of Intelligence Services
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Description
Table of Contents
I. Introduction
II. The Challenge of Oversight
The Need for Secrecy Versus the Need for Transparency
The Temptation for Politicians
The Challenges of Intelligence Oversight in New Democracies
III. Executive Oversight: Addressing Politically Sensitive IntelligenceIssues
The Role of the Executive
International Intelligence Cooperation
Safeguards Against Ministerial Abuse of Intelligence Services
IV. Parliamentary Oversight: Inside or Outside the Ring of Secrecy?
The Role of the Parliament
Access to Secret Information
V. Non-Political Oversight: The Role of Courts and Independent Bodies
The Role of the Judiciary
Complaint Systems
Inspectors General and Auditing
VI. Conclusions
Abstract
While spying is said to be the second oldest profession, intelligence accountability is a recent phenomenon. The major challenges of oversight are the focus of this paper and the three main pillars of oversight are described and analysed: executive oversight, parliamentary oversight and oversight by independent bodies. In this analysis, the concept of oversight is seen as a means of ensuring the accountability of the decisions and actions of security and intelligence agencies.