EU Decision Making
Description
This seminar focuses on the EU and its relationship with member states in terms of politics and policy based on the insights of recent institutional approaches, particularly rational choice theory. In this way the seminar extents the insight and knowledge of Public Administration students on the functioning of the Union as an intense cooperation between member states as well as a new level of government in Europe.
The seminar is structured around three different topics:
- Institutional and constitutional issues in the EU focusing on the recent institutional changes in the EU after the adoption of the Lisbon Treaty. This includes different examinations of institutional power and the balance between decision making bodies such as the European Parliament, the Commission and the Council of Minister as well as the role of the President of the European Council, the Commission President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy;
- Policymaking in the European Union, which focuses on the interaction between the various actors at the level of the Union in making of policy; and
- Implementation of European policy by the member states, which deals with delegation of policy implementation to EU member states and the ways in which these member states further shape policy during transposition and implementation.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course, students should have attained:
Advanced understanding of the European policy process with an emphasis on the role of the various political actors including links with national ministries and parliaments;
Advanced understanding of various insights and theories on the functioning of the European policy arena, including its multi-level nature;
Skills in identifying and analyzing scholarly work by using various sources and applying knowledge on different public administration theories, research methodologies and statistics;
Advanced capacity to use argumentative and communication skills in oral and written presentation.
Timetable
Thursday 1-11-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 8-11-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 15-11-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 22-11-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 29-11-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 6-12-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Thursday 13-12-2012 09:00 12:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.01
Mode of instruction
During the seminar the main topics will be discussed from several perspectives, that is, how certain processes take place in the EU, how we can understand these processes, and whether this understanding fits to insights presented in the current literature.
The course will be taught by Professor Steunenberg together with Drs. Th.J.A.M. (Tom) de Bruijn who was the Permanent Representative of the Netherlands in Brussels in the period 2003-2011. Previously he was, among others, Director-General for European Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Assessment method
Students are required to write a short review paper on the readings for one of the classes, do an individual (and short) assignment and take an (oral) exam based on the reading list.
The final grade is based on the following sub grades: review and presentation (30%), individual assignment (10%) and oral exam (60%).
Reading list/Literature
The reading list for the course will be posted on Blackboard.
Blackboard
Instructor uses Blackboard. This page is available from two weeks before the course starts
Registration
Via USIS
Contact information
Prof. dr. Bernard Steunenberg
Remarks / Preparation for first session
Before the start of the class, students need to start preparing the first assignment as soon as possible. This means that enrollment as soon as the Blackboard site of the course is opened is essential. At the site further instructions will be given on the blackboard site.