About Global Agenda

Not long after the terror attacks of September, 2001, questions were raised about whether U.S. intelligence services had failed to properly assess and warn of the terrorist threat against the United States. Since then, several investigations have concluded there may be flaws in the intelligetce gathering machinery. Recently, intelligence and espionage have been important factors in uncovering North Korea¹s nuclear weapons program and in examining Iraq¹s evasion of international weapons inspections. Espionage has been an irritant in the U.S. - China relationship in recent years, and even in relations with close allies.

Espionage and intelligence were critical components of the Cold War between the Soviet Union and the West, which prompted numerous works of fact and fiction.

Most Americans explore the world through a newly global news media. Journalists and policymakers alike must sort out their response to world issues on the basis of information gathered by private ­ and public ­ intelligence sources.

This weekly seminar focuses on the geopolitical challenge of
international espionage and intelligence gathering.

Approximately every other week, guest lecturers, practitioners in intelligence and international media, visit the UD campus to explore with students the problems, the foreign policy and the media's role influencing them. Students in this seminar will attend exclusive small-group talks and private dinners with visiting speakers, and will be joined by members of the university and public community who are invited to the series of Wednesday evening events.

On intervening weeks, the class will explore topics upcoming and just passed in the speaker series. This course is appropriate for juniors and seniors interested in geopolitics in policy and journalism who are eager for lively interaction with our visiting speakers.