Within the research area Intelligence and security, intelligence is studied from a political, historical, ethical, judicial, and methodological perspective.

The main goal is to improve our understanding of how intelligence and security services operate, how they are and have been embedded in their broader political, bureaucratic, and societal context, and how their methodologies can be complemented.

Research on the judicial, political, governance, historical, and ethical elements of intelligence and security should improve our understanding of how intelligence and security services relate to the broader (democratic) state they are part of. This research adds to the body of academic knowledge within the field of the intelligence studies, but it also serves the intelligence practice; in addition, it allows for a more informed public debate about intelligence and security.

Research on the functioning of intelligence organizations and the processes they work with, such as collection, analysis, and management of compartmented structures, also contributes to accountability of and (public) oversight over these organizations. Furthermore, research on methodology and techniques not only contributes to the improvement of the analytical capabilities of intelligence and security services, but also to the broader and more fundamental issue of how not to miss relevant relationships in the domain of security and threats.

Research Programmes

Within the research group Intelligence and security several key areas have been discerned.

1. Politics and governance of intelligence and security
2. The historical perspective on intelligence and security
3. The judicial, ethical, and societal dimensions of intelligence
4. Methodology, analysis and collection systems