Description
This seminar discusses the application of major theoretical approaches to explain developments in the European Union (EU) and studies recent institutional changes in the EU, in a comparison of the situation before and after the Treaty of Lisbon (ToL). We analyze how the role and influence of different actors in the EU has been adapting over time and study how the EU’s external representation works in the post-Lisbon era.
Course objectives
The course familiarizes students with theories and approaches focusing on European integration and with recent developments and institutional adaptations in the European Union (EU). Students will learn how political processes affect the ways in which EU institutions act and how the EU operates in areas such as external action and economic and monetary governance. On the basis of short essays, a presentation and a final research paper, student learn how to analyse and interpret recent steps in European integration.
Timetable
See the link on the right side of the first screen.
Feb 12 to 14: two-day excursion to European Institutions in Brussels
Mode of instruction
The seminar is based on active student participation. It includes short lectures followed by class discussion, student presentations and a two-day excursion to EU institutions in Brussels. We will prepare for this excursion by presentations on selected topics that are of particular interest in view of the visit.
Course Load
5 ec
Assessment method
Students will be evaluated based on short essays (40 percent total), a research paper (40 percent), a presentation (10 percent) and class participation (10 percent).
Blackboard
All information relevant to this course will be posted on the Blackboard course site.
Reading list
For this seminar, we study recent literature on European integration and partially draw on a special issue, published in West European Politics, on decision-making in the EU before and after the Treaty of Lisbon. We also use as readings selected recent journal articles on topics such as the evolving institutional structure and the EU’s role in the area of economic and financial governance.
Registration
TBA