An elementary step-by-step approach to defining your research question, method and sources by zooming out on EU-and Security - using the topic of migrant smuggling as an example 

What - how - when - and for whom? 
challenges in contemporary EU security research - with taking Horizon 2020 as an example

Question stream 2 - for those who are trying to do research from master theses and up - on issues of relevance to EU and security

This question stream will focus on difficulties and possibilities facing those who are trying to approach research topics relevant to the EU and security. 

#Mycomments will derive from the Handbook on EU and Security plus experiences from other publications that I have been involved in including three major peer-reviewed publication on the External Action Service, the UN and Regional organizations and EU Nonproliferation policy. 

Thinking out of the box when researching EU and Security is increasingly important as security issues under discussion proliferate into more and more different dimensions.

The paradox is : EUs comprehensive role on security often isdismissed using a narrow concept of security.

Zoom out in order to zoom in

How can I define a research purpose which is not only relevant to the theoretical literature but also relevant to key questions in the public debate? 

How can I find out more about possible sources?

The EU is often perceived as a black box difficult if not impossible to research in particular if you are not posted to Brussels. But there are ways to approach the institutions and issues..

How do I spread the results of my research?

Publications that make it into Google Scholar are painfully slow - often appearing several years after the research actually was carried out. This is fine for the natural sciences - but how can I be more relevant to the current debate?