Espionage

:Spy and secret agent redirect here; for alternate use, see Spy (disambiguation) and Secret agent (disambiguation).

Related Topics:
Spy (disambiguation) - Secret agent (disambiguation)

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Espionage is the practice of obtaining secrets (spying) from rivals or enemies for military, political, or economic advantage. It is usually thought of as part of an institutional effort (i.e., governmental or corporate intelligence). A spy is an agent employed to obtain such secrets. The definition has been restricted to a state spying on potential or actual enemies, primarily for military purposes, but this has been extended to spying involving corporations, known specifically as industrial espionage. Many nations routinely spy on both their enemies, and allies, although they maintain a policy of not making comment on this. Black's Law Dictionary (1990) defines espionage as: "...gathering, transmitting, or losing...information related to the national defense."

Related Topics:
Secrets - Military - Political - Economic - Intelligence - State - Corporation - Industrial espionage - Nation - Black's Law Dictionary - 1990 - National defense

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Incidents of espionage are well documented throughout history. The wisdom of Sun-Tzu contains information on deception and subversion. The ancient Egyptians had a thoroughly developed system for the acquisition of intelligence, and the Hebrews used spies as well. More recently, they played a significant part in Elizabethan England (see Francis Walsingham). Feudal Japan often used ninja to gather intelligence. Many modern espionage methods were already then well established.http://www.henrywotton.org.uk/

Related Topics:
Sun-Tzu - Subversion - Ancient Egyptians - Hebrews - Elizabethan - England - Francis Walsingham - Feudal Japan - Ninja

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Espionage, when performed by a citizen of the target state, is generally considered to be a form of treason. In many countries espionage is a crime punishable by death or life imprisonment. For example, espionage is still a capital crime in the USA; however, the death penalty is rarely used in espionage cases in the U.S. See Espionage Act.

Related Topics:
Treason - USA - Espionage Act

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In a person who owed allegiance to the British Crown who spied for a foreign country would face a maximum life sentence for treason if it could be proved they were aiding Britain's enemies. In fact a foreign spy may also be prosecuted for treason because temporary allegiance to the Crown is owed by everyone voluntarily in Britain except lawful enemy combatants.

Related Topics:
Treason - Combatant

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Spying for proscribed terrorist organisations violates the Terrorism Act 2000. During the Second World War German spies in Britain were executed for treachery, a special offense covering any aid given to the enemy, including by foreign nationals.

Related Topics:
Terrorist - Terrorism Act 2000 - Second World War - Treachery

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The Cold War involved intense espionage activity between the United States of America and its allies and the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China and their allies, particularly related to nuclear weapons secrets. Recently, espionage agencies have targeted the illegal drug trade and those considered to be terrorists.

Related Topics:
Cold War - Espionage - United States of America - Soviet Union - People's Republic of China - Nuclear weapons - Illegal drug trade - Terrorist

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