Intelligence Coordination: Practical and Comprehensive Approach and Its Limitations

Intelligence coordination has been the subject of numerous historical publications, but without any attempt to define coordination itself. The aim of this article is to propose a definition, based on the concrete activity of the organization, but also to explain the limitations of the intelligence coordination. For this purpose, a comparative approach was favored, examining the activities of coordinators from four countries (France, Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom) due to the availability of documentation. Their examination allows for the determination of common criteria for coordination bodies. At the heart of the “intelligence cycle” the coordinator participates in the expression of needs, analysis, and dissemination. Additional missions include representing the intelligence community as a whole, as well as the desire to unify intelligence community. The goal is therefore to build a coherent intelligence community, while eliminating fragmentation and duplication, with the aim of providing the best possible information to policymakers. If the intention is commendable, it still faces numerous difficulties.