The Official Record

The construction control and preservation of the Official Record is inherently contested. Those seeking greater openness and (democratic) accountability argue 'sunlight is [...] the best of disinfectants' while others seek stricter information control because to their mind sound government arises when advice and policy are formulated secretly. This edited volume explores the intersection of the Official Record oversight national security and democracy. Through US UK and Canadian case studies this volume will benefit higher level undergraduate readers and above to explore the Official Record in the context of the national security operations of democratic states. All chapters are research-based pieces of original writing that feature a document appendix containing primary documents (often excerpts) that are key to a chapter's narrative. As a result this book interrogates the boundaries between national security accountability oversight and the Official Record.