ASTK12137U The Politics of the European Union - Central Structures and Processes of the EU

Volume 2013/2014
Content

The Jean Monnet Program is aimed at both Danish and international students with a particular interest in European Politics. The program consists of two parts: Jean Monnet Lectures and Jean Monnet Workshops. The weekly lectures present a wide range of perspectives on the European Union and are given by prominent practitioners, academics and journalists within the field. The lectures are open to everyone and it is possible to obtain a certificate of attendance. For students wishing to sit exams at the graduate level, weekly workshops are provided. In the workshops, the topics and themes of the lectures are elaborated upon in discussions and student presentations based on textbooks and articles.

 The first part of the course will give a general introduction to the study of the European Union including the central theories applied in the field. Key questions include the following: What should the focus be when we study the European Union and how should we analyse significant developments? How can we theorize and analyze the EU as a political system, including its institutions and decision-making processes? The second part of the course will deal with the current challenges and changes in the EU related to the Lisbon Treaty and the enlargement process. How will these elements influence the structures and processes of the present EU? how can the effects of these be conceptualized theoretically? The third part of the course will consider other challenges and changes within the EU: namely, specific policy areas (for example, agricultural policy); relations between the different institutions of the Union and between the institutions and the member states; processes of Europeanisation in individual member states.

Learning Outcome
The aim of the course is to provide the theoretical tools and the necessary empirical knowledge for studying the EU in today´s world, so that students are able to:

  • Present the main theoretical approaches for analysing the development of the EU and their implications for concrete analyses (classical integration theories, newer integration theories)
     
  • Analyse the EU as a political system drawing on the relevant literature (in particular Hix og Høyland)
     
  • Analyse policy-making in the EU in different areas (including the role of the member states)
     
  • Present the role of the EU´s institutions
     
  • Put forward the general approaches to analysing Europeanisation
     
  • Identify current challenges to and different national views on the European Union
 

What can be learned?
General theoretical tools and the necessary empirical knowledge for studying the EU.

What can it be used for?
To strengthen the abilities to understand and analyse policy issues in relation to the EU. As far as job opportunities are concerned, the course will strengthen the students´ analytical skills with regard to policy issues which involve the EU. It will therefore be of relevance for work within public administration and companies where the EU plays a role, international organisations, NGOs and journalism.

Literature

Preliminary list of literature

Bulmer, Simon and Lequesne, Christian (eds.) (2005) The Member States of the European Union. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Cini, Michelle and Pérez-Solórzana  Borragán (eds.) (2010) European Union Politics, Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Hix, Simon and Bjørn Høyland, (2011) The Political System of the European Union. Palgrave Macmillan.
Interest in the European Union.
The weekly lectures present a wide range of perspectives on the developments within the European Union and are given by prominent practitioners and academics within the field. The weekly lectures are open to all interested and it is possible to obtain a certificate of attendance. For students wishing to sit exams at the graduate level, weekly workshops are also offered. These take place before the lectures. In the workshops, the topics and themes of the lectures are elaborated upon in discussions and student presentations based on textbooks and articles. Oral examinations take place just before the end of the semester (December).
  • Category
  • Hours
  • Class Instruction
  • 28
  • Exam
  • 79
  • Preparation
  • 168
  • Total
  • 275
Credit
10 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
An oral exam based on a synopsis written by the student
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
  • 12: is given for a performance displaying a high level of command of the elements of the course as outlined above, with only a few or minor weaknesses
     
  • 7: is given for a performance displaying a good command of the elements of the course as outlined above, but also some weaknesses
     
  • 02: is given for a performance displaying satisfactory knowledge of the elements of the course as outlined above.