IntroductionThis essay will examine the politics of espionage. He will discuss examples of espionage as well as its necessity. The newspaper will also debate whether or not spying is an invasion of privacy and a violation of rights. The essay begins by defining espionage. It offers examples of espionage and how it has been used by different countries in the past, as well as how it is increasingly used today on a global scale. The article concludes by offering the authors comments on espionage as well as confirming or denying its use as a tool in international relations1.1. Defining EspionageThe definition of espionage according to different sources. .the use of secret agents to steal information from other governments, enemies and competitors [Hulnick (2004: 165)]. The practice of obtaining military, political, commercial, or other secret information through the use of spies or illegal surveillance devices. It is sometimes distinguished from the broader category of intelligence collection by its aggressive nature and its illegal counterintelligence efforts aimed at detecting and thwarting espionage by others [political science/britannica]. the act of obtaining, delivering, transmitting, communicating or receiving national defense information with the intent, or reason to believe, that such information may be used to the detriment of the nation or the advantage of any foreign nation. [Oxford Dictionary of the American Army].2. Theoretical framework2.1. Is espionage a necessary tool in international relations? Espionage would not be necessary if life took place in an ideal world where states are not self-interested, where transparency exists between states, and where states trust their allies. Since life does not take place in an ideal world, states ...... middle of paper ...... there operate in the gray areas of the law or even without recognizing it. Works Cited Hulnick AS 2004 “Espionage: Does It Have a Future in the 21st Century” Brown Journal of World Affairs. http://www.scu.edu/ethics/publications/subowned/Perry/repugnant.html http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21588861-america-will-not-and-should-not-stop -clearer espionage and better surveillance are needed http://www.cbc.ca/archives/discover/programs/f/fighting-words/fighting-words-may-22-1960-espionage-un-mal-necessary .html Stutler, Thomas R. Nov2000, Vol. 69 Issue 11 https://www.mi5.gov.uk/home/the-threats/espionage/what-is-espionage.html http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2013/06/22/ edward_snowden_is_eighth_person_obama_has_pursued_under_espionage_act.htmlSegal, Adam "The Code Has Not Been Caught: China, the United States, and the Future of Espionage." September 2013, Vol. Number 69 5,