Espionage: A Reference Handbook

(Hardback)

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Description

This is an exploration into the fascinating world of human and technological espionage, its contributions to national security and its vital role in global politics. James Bond 007: secret service agent, sex symbol and possibly the most successful action hero of all time. From the American Revolution and the Cold War, to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict and modern day terrorism, spies have captivated and confounded people all over the world. Why is espionage so abhorrent, yet so universal This handbook illuminates the murky world of espionage and counter-espionage efforts in the United States and around the world. Combining an academic treatment of the causes and forces that shape espionage with narrative accounts of how spying and spy catching are conducted, it covers Benedict Arnold, J. Edgar Hoover, the CIA, the KGB and Jay Pollard, among other topics. Though special attention is focused on the American experience, British, Soviet and Israeli cases are presented, along with recent world events of terrorism and ethnic conflict, providing a unique comparative perspective on the international forces behind spying.

Reviews

"One of the book's strengths is its selection of excerpts from American documents and statements regarding the establishment of major agencies and their activities ... Hastedt provides, in small accessible segments, a broad perspective on an aspect of American history only cursorily mentioned in traditional social studies classes." - School Library Journal "[Y]et another addition to the admirable Contemporary World Issues series published by ABC-CLIO. These books are all available in both print and e-book versions. They are organized in a uniform format, are attractively produced, and are filled with useful information for those interested in learning more about the issues addressed by each volume ... Once again, ABC-CLIO has succeeded in contracting with a well-qualified scholar to produce a thoroughly useful reference volume on an important and interesting issue." - American Reference Books Annual

Author Bio

Glenn Hastedt is professor of political science at James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.