A complexifying security landscape requires increasing collaborative and multi-level security governance in response to asymmetric threats and ‘wicked’ problems. Due to their pragmatic and flexible...Show moreA complexifying security landscape requires increasing collaborative and multi-level security governance in response to asymmetric threats and ‘wicked’ problems. Due to their pragmatic and flexible nature, security networks have become key players within this context. However, these networked structures are often considered less legitimate than traditional hierarchical organizations, and assessment of their effectiveness has been academically neglected and controversial. Europol is heavily involved in both data exchange and analysis to improve the safety and security of EU citizens, thereby proving flexible by expanding its network and creating ‘hubs’ that include third-party states and the private sector. These trends make a thorough evaluation of Europol societally relevant. Through qualitative research methods, this thesis explores challenges to the effectiveness and legitimacy of Europol by evaluating this agency, based on six levels of analysis derived from an extensive body of academic literature. By considering Europol’s value as well as shortcomings on each of these levels of analysis, this thesis positively appraises Europol. However, it is unveiled that in addition to challenges inherent to network structures, the rapidly increasing and diversifying network of actors creates challenges to both the effectiveness and legitimacy of Europol.Show less
