Regional Trends: The EU and its Neighborhood

Tags

WP

Admissions requirements

Introduction to International Relations & Diplomacy or Introduction to Transnational Politics.
European Integration recommended.

Description

This course has two main ambitions. First, it aims to offer an in-depth overview of the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) from its theoretical as well as practical aspects. The course will particularly focus on the discussions around ENP as the main foreign policy tool with which the EU manages its relations with its neighbours. It will also draw attention to regional aspects of the policy in light of current developments in ENP partner states in the southern and eastern neighbourhood. Second, the course intends to examine how the EU functions as a foreign policy actor, especially the interplay between EU institutions and member states.

In addition, the course is to explore the relevance of the European Neighbourhood Policy for International Relations (IR) by considering the way it has been studied. This aspect of the course will be particular interesting for those who are concerned with the current theoretical and methodological debates in IR and/or might like to write their Capstone thesis on this specific European foreign policy.

1. Introduction
   PART I: Theory
   2. The development of EU foreign policy
   3. The development of EU foreign policy institutions
   4. Theories and EU foreign policy
   5. Concepts of power and EU foreign policy
   6. The lessons of enlargement
      PART II: Practice
   7. The legal basis of ENP
   8. Fiscal management of ENP
   9. Crises Management and ENP
   10. Sustainability and ENP
   11. Regionalism I: Eastern Partnership, Northern Dimension and EU Artic Policy
   12. Regionalism II: Union for the Mediterranean , Black Sea Synergy and Central Asia Strategy
   13. Current challenges e.g. the Arab Spring, frozen conflicts, terrorism, migration
   14. Revision

Course objectives

The module is aims to provide a critical examination of EU foreign policy especially in its neighbourhood. In successfully completing this course, you will:

• Understand the background to EU relations with its neighbours;

• Develop your knowledge of the theoretical approaches to the study of EU foreign policy;

• Acquire familiarity with the practical aspects of EU foreign policy;

• Demonstrate an understanding of the agendas and strategies of the EU as well as its neighbour states;

• Produce a well-argued IR essay;

• Improve your oral presentation skills and your ability to communicate arguments to other students.

Timetable

Once available, timetables will be published here.

Mode of instruction

The course is taught through two-hour seminars. During the course of the seminar students are expected to take part in both in the seminar discussions; present and defend their ideas within an academic setting; and take part in group presentations. The role of the course instructor is to ensure the efficient running of the discussion.

Assessment

Four elements of coursework constitute the final mark for the course:

Participation (17%)
Two group presentations (18%)
Précis (20%)
Final essay (20%) Final exam (25%)

Blackboard

There will be a Blackboard site available for this course. Students will be enrolled at least one week before the start of classes.

Reading list

Compulsory literature:

• Whitman, R and Wolff, S (2012) The European Neighbourhood Policy in Perspective: Context, Implementation and Impact, Palgrave

Recommended readings:

• Smith, K E (2014) European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World, London, Polity

• McCormick, J (2011) Understanding the European Union, Palgrave

• Howorth, J (2014) Security and Defence Policy in the European Union, Palgrave

Registration

This course is open to LUC students and LUC exchange students. Registration is coordinated by the Curriculum Coordinator. Interested non-LUC students should contact course.administration@luc.leidenuniv.nl.

Contact

Dr. Beatrix Futak-Campbell.