The Intelligence Studies Section (ISS) is devoted to the advancement of research on all aspects of intelligence as it relates to international studies. Dedicated to studying and teaching the specific subject of intelligence, the ISS also believes that the subject should be addressed in the larger context of international relations, foreign policy, international law, ethics, and the efforts of nation-states to maintain political, economic, and military security.

Members of the section are drawn from a variety of disciplines, including political science, history, international relations, sociology, and law. The ISS organizes panels at the annual meetings of the International Studies Association (ISA) and cooperates with other professional organizations in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain in promoting intelligence studies.