Covert Action: Perils and Advantages

Abstract

Covert action is intelligence activity described as the "hidden hand" of states, in which states can create political, military, economic, and ideological effects in foreign policy. While it has a use rate of around five percent in traditional intelligence activities, it has a vital and facilitating effect on states’ foreign policy. States seek to achieve foreign policy goals through covert action thanks to its facilitating nature. It provides capacity and can hide states' involvement in events via "plausible deniability". While it may provide quick and cost-effective solutions in the short term, it may leave a long-term hostility in the hostile state. The article uses a literature review as a research method. It aims to contribute to intelligence studies literature by analyzing covert actions in Iran, Albania, and Syria.