Feminist philosophy and the problem of intelligence analysis: standpoint, measurement, and motivation

Abstract

ABSTRACT How can feminist epistemological methods contribute to the task of intelligence analysis? Feminist work widens the lens of what constitutes politics, enabling analysts to incorporate new variables and events into their analysis. In addition, feminist epistemology’s emphasis on reflexivist methods can help to provide a ‘360-degree view’ of problems by incorporating the insights of those who are the subject of analysis. Knowledge is co-created by considering how participants themselves attach meanings and labels to their actions. This approach helps to guard against researcher bias and aids researchers in identifying their blind spots. Feminist methods are also helpful when asking ‘queer questions’ where either the subject of an inquiry or the answer to a query might be poorly specified, ambiguous, or resistant to labeling. They are thus of utility when exploring ‘mysteries’ rather than puzzles, in the words of Gregory Treverton. This essay expands on these three arguments regarding the utility of feminist epistemological methods and finally provides a case study, showing how feminist epistemological methods are of particular utility in examining the phenomenon of female suicide bombers, including making predictions about this activity and describing the motivations of those who participate in it.