The importance of intelligence in İnternational Relations

Intelligence activities are one of the most significant necessities. Intelligence is a significant element not only in the process of decision taking about national issues but also ascertaining foreign policy. When evaluating which conutry is useful in international area for us and what kind of relations should be setted up toward that country should be determined according to intelligence reports that was collected in specific and related areas.It does not seem possible to determine or planning a strategy without having enough information about other country or rival.Of course, an effective way is to able to plan a reliable strategy is have a sophisticated and broad intelligence service.

From history to nowadays intelligence has always showed itself as a necessary part in various areas in a state.

In past, intelligence was generally used in military aims; to get information about how many soldiers are in there? What are the strategic weapons? (arrengement of army, fighting order etc.)

But today, intelligence is almost in every part of life. There are so various kinds of intelligence activities; economic intelligence, military intelligence, cyber intelligence, politic intelligence, electronic intelligence, technology intelligence.

The oldest source is known about intelligence is a book named ‘’ BİG-FA’’  it means  ‘’ART OF WAR’’ and it belongs to SUN TZU who was a philosopher and commander in his time.The book ‘’ART OF WAR’’ is being thirteen section that each tells about different methods of war ,and it is accepted the best source about strategies and tactics of that term.The book occupied significant place in many famous general’s and politic leader’s life .And also, it is known that Napoloen and Hitler had always utilized this book  ,and strategies inside it took them to the victory.

On the other hand, in today, the book is mostly used to teach strategies to military staff and intelligence staff in Far East. A quotation from this book is oftenly used as a proverb and idiom in daily life .One of the most famous of them is this:

‘’If you know both yourself and your enemy, you win hundred of wars in hundred times. If you know yourself, and don’t know your enemy; you win one war but lose another. If you neither know yourself, nor your enemy; you lose everytime.’’

As it  seems  today, in order  not to give the enough importance to the espionage in history as well, both in today and in history we payed for this so much and stil paying now as well. Some examples are in below help to enlight the issue.

First of all, Mongols succeded  to  defeat  the Seljukians in ‘KOSEDAGH  WAR ‘ in 1243 becuse of effec tive espionage activities and for the sake of giving support to Batinies.Mongols had  provoked especially small states which were settled in Seljukians  and Ottomans  by using spies and  by promising   about their  independency. Secondly, Timur won the ‘Ankhara War ‘by convincing some commanders and rulers who were in other side with the help of his spies. And remember that, conqueror Sultan Mehmet was poisened by a Greek doctor while he was preparing to declare war toward Rome.This last instance is so important from the aspect of showing importance of intelligence in relations with other countries.