ASTK15426U COURSE: Jean Monnet: The Politics of the European Union - Central Structures and Processes of the EU

Volume 2017/2018
Education

Elective course in the specialization "International Relations, Diplomacy and Conflict Studies"

Bachelorlevel: 10 ECTS

Masterlevel: 7,5 ECTS

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.

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.

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

  • present the role of the EU´s institutions in EU decision-making
  • present the main theoretical approaches for analysing the development of the EU(classical integration theories, newer integration theories)
  • Present the central theoretical positions in the debate about the democratic deficit
  • Present the main kinds of Euroscepticism
  • Present the main concept to analysing Europeanisation.

 

Skills

  • Be able to use the integration theories in concrete analyses of the EU
  • analyse the EU as a political system drawing on the relevant literature (in particular Hix og Høyland)
  • Identify current challenges to and different national views on the European Union.
  • analyse policy-making in the EU in different areas (including the role of the member states)

 

Competences

The course aims to provide students with general theoretical tools and the necessary empirical knowledge for studying the EU.  After taking this course, students are expected to be able to understand and analyse EU politics and policy issues drawing on the appropriate theoretical approaches. This both goes for  questions relating to the EU and its development as a whole and debates  about specific themes such as democracy, Euroscepticism, and the Euro. 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.

 

Bulmer, Simon and Lequesne, Christian (eds.) (2013) The Member States of the European Union. Oxford, Oxford University Press.

Cini, Michelle and Pérez-Solórzana  Borragán (eds.) (2016) 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
  • Total
  • 28
Credit
7,5 ECTS
Type of assessment
Oral examination
Oral exam
Marking scale
7-point grading scale
Censorship form
External censorship
Criteria for exam assesment
  • Grade 12 is given for an outstanding performance: the student lives up to the course's goal description in an independent and convincing manner with no or few and minor shortcomings
  • Grade 7 is given for a good performance: the student is confidently able to live up to the goal description, albeit with several shortcomings
  • Grade 02 is given for an adequate performance: the minimum acceptable performance in which the student is only able to live up to the goal description in an insecure and incomplete manner