Studiegids

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European Integration

Vak
2017-2018

Admission requirements

MSc International Relations and Diplomacy students.

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 and a final research paper, students learn how to analyse and interpret recent steps in European integration.

Timetable

To be announced by OSC staff.
This course will also include a 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 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 (50 percent total), a research paper (40 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

Use both uSis and Blackboard to register for every course.
Register for every course and workgroup via uSis. Some courses and workgroups have a limited number of participants, so register on time (before the course starts). In uSis you can access your personal schedule and view your results. Registration in uSis is possible from four weeks before the start of the course.
Also register for every course in Blackboard. Important information about the course is posted here.

Contact

Prof. Dr. Madeleine Hosli