This module critically explores the European Union (EU) and its main political processes: integration, disintegration (Brexit), institutional set-up, and policymaking.
The course emphasises the importance of the idea of Europe (‘who is European?’, ‘where does Europe begin and end?’), power relations and dynamics between member states, as well as the complex political, economic, and social interdependencies that (re)shape the EU.
The module is divided into three thematic parts:
The first part explores the historical and political context which led to European integration. Special attention will be paid to frictions of the integration process, particularly Brexit and Euroscepticism.
The second part critically examines the EU institutional set up, the power (im)balance between various EU institutions, as well as the so-called democratic deficit crisis.
The final section of the module critically explores key policy areas of the EU. These include economic, social, and migration policy.
The activities in the course will promote individual study and research, as well as group discussion and debate. The seminar activities for this module are versatile and involve lively (and civil) debates, group work, and hands-on, role-playing activities designed to promote a critical and informed understanding of EU politics.
The module is designed to equip students with an in-depth empirical and conceptual understanding, as well as analytical skills necessary to grasp, discuss and critically evaluate how the EU and its main political processes operate.
Students will gain specific knowledge about the history and structure of the EU and develop a mode of thinking that will allow them to engage critically with wider contemporary political issues including democracy, populism, global governance, as well as austerity and the global economy in crisis. The course will be of interest to students from different academic backgrounds, with various academic interests and career aspirations. The course will enable students to:
• Understand the historical, political and economic context of the EU, as well as its contemporary significance;
• understand the institutional structure of the EU;
• understand institutional, input and output politics in the EU;
• contribute to normative debates about supranational governance;
• critically assess empirical evidence and its significance for argumentation;
• develop the analytical and research skills necessary to interpret and evaluate the successes (and failures) of fiscal, labour, welfare, and migration policies.