Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences · Political Science and International Relations (English) · Undergraduate
Course Objective
The aim of this course to develop in students a detailed understanding of what the EU does, how and why. It explores the politics of European integration and the operation of the EU and considers what role this unique – sui generis – entity plays in contemporary politics.
Course Content
This course introduces students to the politics and policies of the European Union both in theory and in practice and demonstrates how European governance impacts on national political systems. It (a) introduces students to the evolution of the EU, the treaty base and the theories of integration, (b) explores the composition and powers of the main EU institutions (c) looks at the decision making process and the role of NGOs in the EU system, (d) focuses on the EU policy base and seeks to explain where and why the EU is active in certain policy areas, and (e) examines a series of important policy areas including the common agricultural policy, environmental policy, foreign and defence policy, enlargement and competition policy.
Required Resources
Cini, Michelle and Borragán, Nieves Pérez-Solórzano (ed.), European Union Politics, 5th edition (Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2016) + Supplement including coverage of Brexit
McGowan, L. and Phinnemore, D. (2017) The UK: Membership in Crisis, in Dinan, D. et.al. (eds.) The European Union in Crisis, London: Palgrave, Ch. 5, pp. 77-99.
Recommended Resources
Nelsen, B.F. and Stubb, A. (2014) The European Union: Readings on the Theory and Practice of European Integration, London: Palgrave
van Middelaar, L. (2013) The Passage to Europe: How a Continent Became a Union, New Haven and London: Yale University Press
McCormick, J. (2013) Why Europe Matters: The Case for the European Union, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan
Course Learning Outcomes
- recall the historical evolution of European Integration as well as of the key issues in considering future such integration.
- name the main institutions of the EU and to explain the role of each institution in the policy-making process.
- identify and contrast the key theories that have been advanced to explain European integration.
- explain the main economic and social policies which have been developed at the EU level.
- explain how the EU functions and how the EU institutions interact.
- understand the policy making process and appreciate how policies are formulated, implemented and monitored at the EU level.
- relate European integration and its impact on both member and non-member states in Europe and the rest of the world.
- appreciate the salient issues confronting the EU at the start of the 21st century.
- communicate ideas to others in a clear and concise manner, both orally and in written form.
Core Area Distribution
Teaching Methods
Assessment & Evaluation
ECTS / Workload
| Activity | Quantity | Duration (h) | Total Workload |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course Duration (Including Exam Week) | 16 | 3 | 48 |
| Out of Class Study Period | 16 | 4 | 64 |
| Midterm | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Quiz | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Assignment | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Practice | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Final | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Course Schedule
| Week | Subject | Preparation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | See syllabus uploaded to IZU Campus Information System |
| 2 | Historical Context and EU Institutions and Actors | . |
| 3 | Classical Theories of European Integration: Neo-functionalism and Intergovernmentalism | . |
| 4 | New Theories of European Integration | . |
| 5 | Governance Approaches | . |
| 6 | Europeanization | . |
| 7 | Policy-making in the EU | . |
| 8 | Mid-term Exam | . |
| 9 | The Single Market and Economic and Monetary Union | . |
| 10 | Common Agricultural Policy and Environment Policy | . |
| 11 | Freedom, Security and Justice | . |
| 12 | Foreign, Security and Defence Policies | . |
| 13 | Enlargement | . |
| 14 | Democracy, Legitimacy and the Public Opinion in the EU | . |
| 15 | . | |
| 16 | . |