Fairlie Chappuis

Think Piece 17: The Place of Intelligence in the State's Monopoly on the Legitimate Use of Force

Intelligence agencies can be integral to how the state provides for national and human security, but they may also play a key role in securing authoritarian and autocratic rule. Fairlie Chappuis stresses the need for democratic oversight and control.

Bild: FES Think Piece No. 17 von FES

Summary

  • Reflections on the state monopoly on the legitimate use of force have tended to focus on the role of police and military while neglecting the role of intelligence.
  • Independent civilian intelligence agencies can be integral to how the state provides for national and human security but they may also play a key role in securing authoritarian and autocratic rule.
  • A system of democratic, civilian oversight and control offers the only means of reconciling the vital functions of intelligence with both state and human security. Such a robust system of democratic intelligence oversight and control ultimately provides a way to operationalise the legitimacy of the state’s monopoly on the use of force.

Chappuis, Fairlie

The place of intelligence in the state's monopoly on the legitimate use of force

Berlin, 2016

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