This book attempts to introduce a very important concept: namely the application of the so-called social sciences in the development of tactical and strategic intelligence. Unfortunately its author Kerry Patton demonstrates a remarkably poor understanding of his subject and indeed of the craft of intelligence.
Patton argues that what he terms "sociocultural" intelligence is a new discipline. It is not. Had he done his homework he would know that this application of social science to developing intelligence was used effectively in WWII. Probably the best known example of which was the government sponsored study of Japan by anthropologist Ruth Benedict, "The Chrysanthemum and the Sword: Patterns of Japanese Culture." He completely ignores the definitive book on this subject, "Anthropological Intelligence" (David Price Duke 2008), which discusses the use and neglect anthropological studies by the U.S. during WWII.
Perhaps Patton's most glaring mistake is his assumption that analysis of the languages, cultural patterns and social structures of intelligence target is not done already. Marc Sageman in his book "Understanding Terror Networks" (2004 University of Pennsylvania) used precisely the social science disciplines to develop a very widely accepted description the Global Jihad, especially al Qaeda. Indeed the concept of `target knowledge within and outside of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC) is based on building information about the social behaviors, cultural bias, and social structures of intelligence targets. Remarkably Patton never once mentions the role of language in understand the culture of a people or of a country. This is incredible.
The book is also contains a highly confused and confusing effort to demonstrate a "systems analysis" approach to applying "SOCINT" (Patton's term) to real problems. Instead of discussing kinship, social structures, shared values, Patton embarks on an attempt to mirror telecommunication networks with talk of `nodes', `links' and `networks' that does not really make a lot of sense.
Patton devotes a good deal of time to discussing `critical thinking' which indeed is very important to the analytic process. Yet he apparently has never read "Critical Thinking and Intelligence Analysis' by David Moore although he sites one of Moore's earlier books. On the subject of analysis one is struck by the fact that Patton appears completely unaware of the fact that the analytic process at all levels is really one of research and analysis. He also appears unaware that the application of SOCINT as he terms it, must necessarily involve target research as well as analysis.
This book will stand as an example of a good idea badly executed.
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