HHIK06745U HIS 74. The History of the European Union, 1945 to 2015
History
Historical core area 2: Academic writing with focus on source
analysis (HHIK03741E) [Curriculum for Master´s Programme in
History, 2015-Curriculum]
Historical core area 2: Academic writing with focus on source
analysis (HHIK03741E) [Curriculum for the Master’s Minor in
History, 2015-Curriculum]
History (ONLY BA-elective for BA students of
History)
Module T5: Historical elective project (HHIB10511E) [BA-elective
studies, 2013-Curriculum]
The History of the European Union, 1945 to 2015
Are we witnessing a return to the dark European history of the
interwar period? Contemporary Europe is currently in its deepest
economic and political crisis since the 1930s. The European Union
(EU) we have learned to take for granted is crumbling. How should
we understand the current crisis and what are the prospects for a
solution? Tracing the history of European integration since the
Second World War, we shall explore the multiple roots of the
contemporary EU. Since 1945, European integration has been at the
heart of the reconstruction of the European continent after the
destructions of the World War. These processes have in fundamental
ways recast the European state system and brought peace, economic
growth and stability. However, did European integration also bear
the seeds of its own destruction? The lack of popular legitimacy,
the complex and inefficient institutional system, the capitalist
and neoliberal market orientation have all contributed to the
current situation. This course intends to offer students the
historical insight and analytical tools to better understand the
crisis of Europe.
The course will be introduced with a crash course in the history of
European integration. This will be followed by in dept studies of
key events and turning points throughout the history of the EC/EU.
In these case studies we will work directly with archival and oral
history sources dealing with the history of European integration.
The aim is to provide not only a general overview of the topic, but
also a deeper understanding of the historical dynamics, which have
triggered the move towards the uniting of Europe.
A fundamental assumption guiding this course is that it is not
possible to talk of one process of European integration, but that
multiple, interlinked processes of integration have shaped Europe
of today. To analyse the nature of these different processes and
how they have weaved the political, social and cultural fabric of
contemporary Europe, an interdisciplinary approach is required.
Linked by a strong historical perspective including a framework of
historical methodology and analysis, social sciences such as
sociology, political science and law will be applied in order to
provide a comprehensive understanding of modern Europe.
Course objectives (clarification of some of the
objectives stipulated in the curriculum):
After the course students will be able to:
• present a comprehensive understanding of the history of European
integration from 1945 to 2015
• critically discuss different methodologies, historical
interpretations and social science theories dealing with European
integration
• work with archival and oral history sources and discuss
crictially central problems of course criticism
• prepare and carry out a source based analysis of European
integration history
• communicate the key themes of the course in academic writing and
discussion
- Mark Gilbert: Surpassing Realism. The Politics of European
Integration since 1945. Oxford: Rowman & Littelefield
Publishers, INC., 2003.
- Desmond Dinan: Origins and Evolution of the European
Union. Oxford University Press, 2006.
- Documents on European Union (Documents in
Contemporary History). Eds.: Jan Van Der Harst and A. G. Harryvan.
Palgrave MacMilland: London, 1997.
These titles can be bought in Akademisk Boghandel – KUA from mid
August onwards.
Internet resources relevant for the course:
- European Union documents:
http://europa.eu/publications/index_en.htm
- European Navigator - Interesting home page with sources on
European integration history:
http://www.cvce.eu/en
- Historical Archive of the European Union, which hold online
collections of sources and oral history:
http://www.eui.eu/Research/HistoricalArchivesOfEU/Index.aspx
- Archive of European Integration, University of Pittsburg
http://aei.pitt.edu
- Journal of European Integration History is the leading
journal in the field and might provide a first step in your search
for literature on basis of which you do the written assignments:
http://www.eu-historians.eu/Journal
- Contemporary European History:
http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=CEH
- Journal of Common Market Studies:
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1111/(ISSN)1468-5965
- Category
- Hours
- Class Instruction
- 56
- Exam Preparation
- 129,5
- Preparation
- 203
- Total
- 388,5
[KA] Læs mere på (Danish only):
https://intranet.ku.dk/historie_ka/undervisning/historie/Sider/default.aspx
[KA tilvalg] Læs mere på (Danish only):
https://intranet.ku.dk/historie_ka/tilvalg/tilvalgka/Sider/default.aspx
[BA tilvalg (kun for Historiestuderende)] Læs mere på (Danish
only):
https://intranet.ku.dk/historie_ba/undervisning/historie/Sider/default.aspx
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Type of assessment
- Other
- Exam registration requirements
Current curricula for History / Aktuelle studieordninger for Historie og Uddannelseshåndbog for Historie; Pensumbestemmelser for kandidatuddannelsen i Historie; Kronologiske spredningskrav for kandidatuddannelsen i Historie
Criteria for exam assesment
Course information
- Language
- English
- Course code
- HHIK06745U
- Credit
- 15 ECTS
- Level
- Full Degree MasterBachelor choice,Full Degree Master choice
- Duration
- 1 semester
- Placement
- Autumn
- Schedule
- See Timetable link
- Study board
- Study Board of Archaeology, Ethnology, Greek & Latin, History
Contracting department
- SAXO-Institute - Archaeology, Ethnology, Greek & Latin, History
Course responsibles
- Morten Rasmussen (8-8183868879828675547c8981427f8942787f)