Must i förändring : Kvalitet, hastighet och kommersialisering i en transversell underrättelsemiljö

This study investigates how increasing competition from private intelligence providers affects the analytical practices of state intelligence services, focusing on the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must). It examines how commercial actors influence internal procedures, credibility assessments, institutional authority, and organizational adaptation. Using a qualitative, abductive design based on semi-structured elite interviews and narrative analysis, the research finds that private providers challenge traditional norms by introducing new temporal logics, market-driven priorities, and alternative standards of analytical validity. In response, Must has reconfigured workflows, increased operational tempo, and selectively engaged external expertise while maintaining strict quality controls. The study concludes that private actors serve not only as competitors but also as catalysts for innovation. Their presence fosters reflexivity, institutional learning, and epistemic pluralism. These findings contribute to understanding intelligence work as a hybrid, contested field shaped by evolving public-private dynamics and shifting expectations of expertise.

Publication Details

Journal
KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Published
2025-01-01
Primary Topic
Intelligence, Security, War Strategy
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Must i förändring : Kvalitet, hastighet och kommersialisering i en transversell underrättelsemiljö

KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Intelligence, Security, War Strategy
article

Must i förändring : Kvalitet, hastighet och kommersialisering i en transversell underrättelsemiljö

article en

Abstract

This study investigates how increasing competition from private intelligence providers affects the analytical practices of state intelligence services, focusing on the Swedish Military Intelligence and Security Service (Must). It examines how commercial actors influence internal procedures, credibility assessments, institutional authority, and organizational adaptation. Using a qualitative, abductive design based on semi-structured elite interviews and narrative analysis, the research finds that private providers challenge traditional norms by introducing new temporal logics, market-driven priorities, and alternative standards of analytical validity. In response, Must has reconfigured workflows, increased operational tempo, and selectively engaged external expertise while maintaining strict quality controls. The study concludes that private actors serve not only as competitors but also as catalysts for innovation. Their presence fosters reflexivity, institutional learning, and epistemic pluralism. These findings contribute to understanding intelligence work as a hybrid, contested field shaped by evolving public-private dynamics and shifting expectations of expertise.

KTH Publication Database DiVA (KTH Royal Institute of Technology)
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Openalex Percentile: Top 42%
Intelligence, Security, War Strategy
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.