European Union Policies
Description
This core seminar of the MA in European Governance focuses on European Union (EU) policy making. The course discusses theories of EU policy making and applies these theories to single market policies, the Economic and Monetary Union, social and employment, agriculture, environmental policy and common foreign and security policy.
Course objectives
The objective of the course is to give students a solid foundation for analyzing EU policies and policy-making. This will be done by examining a range of different EU policy areas, where the degree of EU competence and the policy mode vary. Students are expected to acquire a descriptive knowledge of the different empirical policies and familiarize themselves with relevant theories of EU policy-making. Moreover, they will learn how to apply these different theories in studies of EU policy-making.
Timetable
Tuesday 12-2-2013 14:00 17:00 CDH-Stichthage room Korte Voorhout
Thursday 14-2-2013 13:00 16:00 CDH-SCHOUW A0.06
Thursday 21-2-2013 13:00 16:00 CDH-SCHOUW A2.04
Thursday 28-2-2013 13:00 16:00 CDH-SCHOUW B3.01
Tuesday 5-3-13 13:00-16:00 CDH-Stichthage room Korte Voorhout
Thursday 14-3-2013 13:00 16:00 CDH-SCHOUW B3.01
Thursday 21-3-2013 13:00 16:00 CDH-SCHOUW B3.01
Mode of instruction
The seminar crucially depends on the active participation of students. Teams of students prepare the sessions. They present an integrated account of the required readings consisting of theoretical literature and general information about the policy field of the week. In addition they apply this general knowledge to a topical case, about which they have to independently collect information. Presentations take about 45 minutes and will be followed by discussion with the whole group. This implies that the rest of the group must read the required reading very carefully as well.
Assessment method
Regular attendance is required. Grading is based on the team work (30 per cent), the participation in the discussions (20 per cent), and a take home exam (24 hours) based on some questions that transcend individual policy fields (50 per cent). Passing the take home exam (5.5) is a precondition for passing the seminar.
Reading list/Literature
Basic knowledge about the institutions and the policy making process in the EU is required. Students that have not attended an introduction to the EU are advised to consult the most recent edition of an introductory book as background reading, for instance: Herman Lelieveldt and Sebastian Princen (2011) The Politics of the European Union, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, Nugent, N. (2010), Government and Politics of the European Union, Palgrave: Palgrave University Press
The seminar will be based on the following books:
Helen Wallace, Mark A. Pollack and Alasdair R. Young. 2010. Policy making in the European Union (6th edition!), Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hix, Simon and Bjorn Hoyland (2011). The Political System of the European Union. Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan (3rd edition)..
Additional required literature is either electronically available (Library) or will be made available on Blackboard.
Blackboard
Instructor uses Blackboard. This page is available from of a week before the course commences.
Registration
Via USIS
Contact information
Dr. Anne Rasmussen, rasmussena@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
Remarks / Preparation for first session
Students should prepare the following readings for the first session:
Wallace, Helen, Mark A. Pollack and Alasdair R. Young (2010). ‘An overview’, in Helen
Wallace, Mark A. Pollack and Alasdair R. Young. 2010. Policy making in the European
Union (6th edition!). Oxford University Press, pp. 3-14.Hix, Simon and Bjorn Hoyland (2011). _The Political System of the European Union._\
Houndsmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 1-22 [chapter 1 ‘Explaining the EU
Political System’].