Global Security and Intelligence Studies Volume 3, Number 1, Spring/Summer 2018 | Page 4

Global Security and Intelligence Studies • Volume 3, Number 1 • Spring / Summer 2018
Editorial Welcome
Global Security and Intelligence Studies (GSIS) aims to publish high-quality
and original research on contemporary security and intelligence issues.
The journal is committed to methodological pluralism, and seeks to bridge
the gap between scholars and practitioners engaged in global security and intelligence
issues by publishing rigorous research, book reviews, and reflections on
the field that are relevant to both communities. We will, on occasion, also seek to
publish special issues on timely intelligence and global security topics, and welcome
proposals that fit with the scope and aims of the journal. The journal actively
encourages both former and current intelligence and global security practitioners
to participate in important scholarly and policy debates, and invites them to contribute
their research to the journal. As a result, we hope that the journal is a vibrant
platform for informed, reasoned, and relevant debates on the most important
global security and intelligence issues of our time.
Welcome to the Spring/Summer 2018 issue of Global Security and Intelligence
Studies. In this issue, research articles, perspectives from the field, and book
reviews are featured. In addition, I am excited to introduce a new section devoted
to policy-relevant commentaries. Here, our aim is to feature high quality, short
essays by academics and practitioners that provide an analytical perspective on
current or emerging policy-relevant issues of importance. I acknowledge the valuable
assistance and expertise of Dr. Matthew Crosston in developing this section,
and thank him for his contributions to the journal.
The research articles in this issue examine a diversity of themes: the rise to
political power of unanticipated political leaders, the quality of university-level
intelligence studies programs, and political challenges and opportunities in post-
ISIL Iraq. In A Psychological and Political Analysis of a 20th Century “Doctator”:
Dr. François Duvalier, President-for-Life of Haiti, Nicole K. Drumhiller and Casey
Skvorc present a psychobiography of François Duvalier, examining key psychological
influences and defining moments that shaped his rise to power. The authors’
analysis sheds light on the processes through which a physician was able to transform
into a political dictator. Their analysis is situated in the psychological study
of political leaders, providing a unique perspective on the rise of “doctators” more
generally. In Strategic Warning and Anticipating Surprise: Assessing the Education
and Training of Intelligence Analysts, Richard J. Kilroy Jr. and Katie Brooks examine
the quality of undergraduate degree programs in intelligence studies. Based on
a content analysis of course syllabi from a sample of programs, they observe an
over-reliance on structured analytical techniques, which, they argue, may not be
providing the deep critical thinking skills that future intelligence analysts require to
effectively anticipate strategic surprise. Finally, in Exploring United States Involvement
in Post-ISIL Iraq, Stefanie Mitchell examines critical challenges relating to
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doi: 10.18278/gsis.3.1.1