CALL FOR SPECIAL ISSUE

Intelligence and Diplomacy: Managing New-Generation Challenges and  Unpredictability in an Era of Strategic Uncertainty

The relationship between intelligence and diplomacy has historically been close, yet this relationship has been examined insufficiently in academic circles. 

While diplomacy is traditionally associated with inter-state negotiation, representation, and communication, intelligence has often functioned as one of the foundational yet often overlooked dimensions of diplomatic practice: it has informed decision-making processes, shaped perceptions, contributed to crisis management, enabled covert channels of communication, and in some cases, served as an alternative instrument of state action in its own right.

This special issue aims to examine the enduring relationship between intelligence and diplomacy within a broad conceptual framework that could be described as “intelligence diplomacy.” 

This issue goes beyond treating intelligence merely as a supporting element for defense or foreign policy-making; it invites studies that discuss how intelligence actors, institutions, relationships, and practices shape diplomatic processes, informal negotiations, covert communication channels, and the international order. The special issue places particular emphasis on focusing on the conceptual, historical, legal, strategic, and comparative dimensions of this evolving field.

• We welcome original studies on the following themes, among others:
• Conceptual and theoretical approaches to intelligence diplomacy
• The relationship between intelligence and classical diplomacy
• Intelligence liaison and interstate cooperation
• Covert diplomacy, back channels, and backdoor negotiations
• The role of intelligence agencies in mediation, crisis management, and de-escalation processes 
• Intelligence diplomacy in war and hybrid conflict environments
• The role of intelligence in ceasefire diplomacy, hostage negotiations, and prisoner exchanges
• Embassies, diplomatic missions, and intelligence functions
• Intelligence, diplomacy, and covert operations: boundaries and intersections
• The legal, ethical, and normative dimensions of intelligence diplomacy
• Democratic oversight and accountability at the intelligence-diplomacy intersection
• Regional and comparative case studies
• Intelligence diplomacy in middle powers, rising powers, and non-Western states
• The impacts of digitalization, cyber intelligence, and open-source intelligence on diplomatic practice
• New-generation intelligence tools and their applications in diplomacy

This special issue aims to bring together researchers from international relations, intelligence studies, diplomacy, security studies, strategic studies, and related disciplines. Submitted works are expected to be theoretical, conceptual, empirical, and comparative in nature.

Potential case areas may include regional contexts where the intelligence-diplomacy interaction is evident from an operational or political perspective.

By centering on the relationship between intelligence and diplomacy, this special issue aims to contribute to a deeper understanding of how modern states exercise power, manage uncertainty, and conduct delicate forms of international interaction that extend beyond formal diplomacy.

Manuscript Submission Deadline September 15, 2026

Expected Publication Date January 15, 2027

Guest Editor Haşim KOÇ 
Editor-in-Chief İlkut Taha TASLI, PhD