Prospectus

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Regional Trends: The EU and Its Neighbourhood

Course
2017-2018

Tags

WP

Admissions requirements

Introduction to International Relations (100-level) and Globalisation and Transnational Politics (100-level); Recommended: European Integration (200-level) and/or Multilateral Institutions (300-level)

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.

Course objectives

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

  • Understand the main political and economic motivation behind the EU’s relationship with its neighbours;

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

  • Acquire familiarity with the policy tools that available to the EU;

  • Engagement critically with the debates and positions the EU and its member states take regarding further enlargement, relations with the neighbours and the EU’s position in the global order;

  • Improve oral presentation and written skills and the ability to communicate complex arguments.

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:

  1. In-class participation (10%)
  2. Mid-term group research proposal (18%)
  3. Précis: (32%)
  4. Research poster presentation (40%)

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:

Hill, C and Smith, M (2011) International Relations and the European Union, OUP
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

Beatrix Futak-Campbell

Remarks

Weekly Overview
1. Introduction

PART I: Theory

  • Conceptualising EU as a global actor

  • Institutions and process

  • Common Foreign and Security Policy

  • Lessons from the enlargement

PART II: Practice

  • Legal basis of EU foreign policy

  • Fiscal instruments

  • European neighbours vs. neighbours of Europe

  • Regionalism I: Eastern Neighbourhood

  • Regionalism II: Southern Neighbourhood

  • Current challenges: EU migration crisis

  • Trip to the European Commission