Dr. Vittorio Hosle
IAFIE Intelligence Education Interview Series - Dr. Vittorio Hösle
Interviewer: Andrea Bardazzi
Table of Contents:
Question 1). Let’s start from the basics. How would you like to present yourself to the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE)?
Question 2). Your fields of study are varied and often at the intersection of different disciplines. Can you tell us why a philosopher today should be interested in intelligence?
Question 3). The world of intelligence undoubtedly has a peculiar status, both politically and morally. What are the grounding philosophical-political assumptions of intelligence?
Question 4). Intelligence agencies are not all the same. You have extensively studied the history and structure of both contemporary democratic systems and totalitarian and authoritarian ones. What are the consequences of the interaction between intelligence and political force in different governing regimes?
Question 5). When discussing intelligence and its history from World War II to the present, we cannot help but notice how much the world, the challenges, and technology have changed. Do you think that the philosophical problems that intelligence poses to the public nevertheless remain the same?
Question 6). In the course of your studies, you have analysed the concept of Power in politics in depth. Do you think that intelligence constitutes a separate world or that it responds to the same rules as political power?
Question 7). How do you see the future of intelligence and analysis, and how should educators orient themselves?
Question 8). What is the work you believe is most representative of your professional life, and what can future analysts, researchers, and intelligence practitioners learn from it?
Question 9). What suggestions would you give to the new analysts and the next generation?
Question 10). How can our readers follow you?
Question 11). Five keywords that represent you?
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Interview Introduction: The International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE) promotes education and research in the field of intelligence and analysis. It is within this framework that the interview with Professor Vittorio Hösle is particularly valuable. He’s one of the most influential contemporary political philosophers whose philosophical and cultural contributions enrich the debate on nature and the role of intelligence in the modern world. Born in Milan, Hösle is the author of several studies on moral and political philosophy. His ability to link disciplines as diverse as philosophy, social sciences, and ecology makes him a leading figure in addressing the complex entanglements between ethics, knowledge and power. Hösle goes beyond technical and operational approaches to address the ethical and philosophical issues underlying intelligence gathering and analysis activities. He offers a unique perspective on the need to balance operational efficiency with ethical and democratic principles, as well as the importance of a well-rounded understanding of humans and their cultures. His philosophy, rooted in the tradition of German Idealism and moral responsibility theory, raises fundamental questions about the legitimacy of intelligence operations and their relationship to the foundations of political thought. This interview provides an opportunity to explore how in-depth knowledge in intelligence, the training of new generations of analysts, and the significance of philosophical research in data collection relate to each other. His reflections will appeal not only to academics and intelligence professionals but also to all those interested in understanding how strategic decisions are informed and guided by complex cognitive and cultural processes. Consistent with his multidisciplinary approach, Hösle highlights how the role of intelligence is not merely a matter of power, but a practice intrinsically linked to the search for truth and respect for human dignity. It is this tension between pragmatism and idealism, so central to Hösle's philosophy, that makes this interview particularly compelling. On behalf of all of us, thank you, Vittorio!
Question 1). Let’s start from the basics. How would you like to present yourself to the International Association for Intelligence Education (IAFIE)?
I am a philosopher with expertise in political science and literary criticism. My most comprehensive book, “Morals and Politics”, combines a complex ethical foundation of human behaviour with a theory of the social world, aimed at addressing the most critical questions of political ethics. These include issues of just governance, legitimate policies, and the moral means of engaging in politics.
Intelligence is important to a philosopher for both theoretical and practical reasons. There are epistemological questions involved, such as: How do we discern the intentions of political agents who are trying to conceal them? Is it moral to hide political intentions, and if so, why is it moral to try to uncover them? What means are permissible in attempting this?
In my view, the theoretical grounding must combine a solid understanding of human nature with a deep familiarity with the specific culture under study, alongside concrete data analysis. I predicted in 2015 that Russia was preparing for a major war - not because I had privileged access to information, but by reading Russian media, understanding the driving forces of its political development since 1991, and knowing the fundamental values of Russian culture in its pre-Soviet, Soviet, and post-Soviet forms. The moral justification stems from the fact that humans have a right to self-defence, and states have a duty to protect their citizens. We cannot assume other nations will always act peacefully, so it is legitimate to uncover potential aggressive intentions. Paradoxically, by conducting covert intelligence activities, we actually contribute to the transparency of international relations. Even if no hostile intentions are found, reassurance is gained. Likewise, we want the other side to feel reassured about us, which reduces the likelihood of a pre-emptive strike due to perceived threats. Overall, the work of intelligence agencies contributes to world peace—this is its ultimate justification.
I recently spoke with a former Italian MP, who noted that when he met British MPs, he was struck by how many of them had military backgrounds, while this is far less common in Italy. In Western political systems, access to power often favours individuals who can broker deals and excel in media appearances, as these skills determine electability. However, such platforms do not reward expertise in areas like geopolitics, as we’ve been led to believe that peace is perpetual - an assumption that has, unfortunately, proven false. In autocracies, military expertise is often considered essential for political leadership, as seen with figures like Putin, who rose through the KGB/FSB. While I strongly prefer democracies over autocracies, there is no moral equivalence between the two systems, since it’s crucial that democracies allow the peaceful removal of governments through elections - I cannot deny, though, that outside of the USA, many European countries exhibit an alarming lack of military intelligence competence among their political leaders.
The general moral principles remain unchanged, but they must be adapted to different contexts, which we must familiarize ourselves with. However, we must be extremely cautious with technological advances like AI, which accelerate the application of algorithms far beyond the capacity of human brains but ultimately cannot resolve the crucial moral questions. It is delusional to think that moral reasoning can be delegated to computers.
Power comes in different shapes, the three main ones being: power based on negative sanctions (primarily the military system), power based on positive sanctions (primarily the economic system), and power based on persuasion (primarily the cultural system, including education and media). Intelligence is one of the tools of power. Although it is particularly focused on military developments, it can also access economic and cultural systems - consider industrial espionage or the manipulation of online debates by trolls.
Within the intelligence community, a better ethical education is essential, as is a deep study of human history. In society at large, people need to be educated on the importance of maintaining intelligence agencies and why it was naive to believe that the end of history was upon us and that wars would simply disappear.
“Morals and Politics” (German original 1997, English translation 2004) provides a foundation, but to understand recent changes, I recommend my German books “Globale Fliehkräfte” (2019) and “Mit dem Rücken zu Russland” (2022). My 2005 German essay on Le Carré may also offer inspiration.
Question 9). What suggestions would you give to the new analysts and the next generation?
Study Kant, and study Machiavelli. Ultimately, they are compatible. And never overlook the history of the country you are investigating.
Question 10). How can our readers follow you?
Some of my texts are available on academia.edu - if anyone is interested, they are welcome to follow me there.
Question 11). Five keywords that represent you?
Morals, politics, strategic and communicative rationality