Prospectus

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European Integration

Course
2018-2019

Admissions 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. 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 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).

Failed partial grades or components should be compensated by passed partial grades or components. The calculated grade must be at least 5,5 to pass the course. It is not possible to re-sit a partial grade or component once you have passed the course.

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.

Contact

Prof. Dr. M.O. Hosli m.o.hosli@fgga.leidenuniv.nl