Description
What is the European Union (EU)? How and why was it created? How are decisions taken at the EU level? What are the tasks of key EU institutions? Can the EU respond effectively to crises? Why has European integration become contested in the public domain? Is the EU in decline? Engaging with these questions, the course covers the history, institutional framework and main theories explaining the development of European integration. It introduces students to the key internal and external policies of the EU and its responses to the euro and refugee crises, as well as the ongoing Ukraine crisis. The EU has been characterized by a complex institutional setup, seemingly burdensome decision-making, deficits in democratic accountability and legitimacy and detachment from European citizens, which have become topics of reoccurring debates. To help students understand these debates, the purpose of the course is to situate them in a historical, theoretical, and institutional context.
The course is organised around three main themes. First, students will learn about the history of European integration and discover the role of different EU institutions, such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, or the Council of the EU. Second, the lectures will focus on some of the most disputed policy areas in the EU today, such as economic governance, migration and asylum, and foreign policy. Third, we will discuss the main theories of European integration and how they can explain decision-making processes.
The course also includes academic skills work groups that focus on improving students’ ability to understand, summarise, and critically analyse political science research by reviewing and critically assessing several articles focused on the topic of EU foreign policy. During work group sessions, students will work collectively to review articles and present their findings to class through group presentations. At the same time, as these texts bear on certain topics covered in the lectures, engaging with these texts during the work group sessions and through individual and group assignments will help deepen students’ understanding and knowledge of these topics.
Course objectives
Objective 1: Provide a systematic overview of the history of European integration, the functioning of EU institutions, and decision-making modes in different policy areas.
Objective 2: Provide a basic introduction to key concepts and theories in European integration and how they can be applied.
Objective 3: Familiarize students with concrete policy debates in response to recent crises in EU politics.
Objective 4: Help students further develop the skills to analyse and evaluate multiple academic texts.
Objective 5: Help students further develop the skills to present their findings both orally (by giving a presentation) and in writing (through two assignments).
Mode of instruction
This course has 8 EC, which correspond to 244 study hours. There are 12 live lectures (equivalent to 24 hours in total) and 6 workgroup group sessions (equivalent to 12 hours in total). The remaining 208 hours should be spent completing the workgroup assignments and self-study.
Assessment method
Assessment, grading method (in percentages), compensation and re-exams. Do check the programme plan.
Please specify as clear as possible the calculation method of the final grade, this saves a lot of time of the Board of Examiners.
Specify the format of each exam component, the weighting and the grading method. To complete the final grade, please take notice of the following:
1) the final grade for the course is established by determining the weighted average
2) the final grade for the course is established by (i) determination of the weighted average combined with (ii) additional requirements. These additional requirements generally relate to one or more of the subtests always be sufficient.
Every partial or component grade has to be 5.5 or higher.
To succeed the weighted mean of two or more partial grades has to be 5,5 or higher. Compensation of partial grades is only possible if the partial grade is less then 30% of the final course grade. Specify the compensation.
Also state if and how there is opportunity to re-take the exam (s). It is an option to combine re- exams.
60% written exam
o 100% multiple choice (based on lectures and readings)40% workgroup assignments and participation
o The final grade for the work groups is the weighted average of a group project, including a presentation and a written assignment (40% of the grade), an individual written assignment (50% of the grade), and a participation grade (counting for 10% of the grade).
The time and location of inspection and debriefing of the exam will be announced via Brightspace no later than the publication of the grades.
Reading list
The booktitles and / or syllabi to be used in the course, where it can be purchased and how this literature should be studied beforehand. Keep in mind the rules for copyright (Auteursrechteninformatiepunt). The fines are high.
- Nugent, N (2017) The Government and Politics of the European Union, Palgrave Macmillan, 8th Edition [selected chapters].
A new edition of this textbook is expected in early 2026. If the new edition becomes available before 1 February, students will be notified accordingly here.
Registration
See 'Practical Information'
Timetable
See 'MyTimetable'
Contact
Names and email adresses for more information (contact hours)
Dr. N. Yordanova, n.yordanova@fsw.leidenuniv.nl
T.E.C. Scarff MSc, t.e.c.scarff@fsw.leidenuniv.nl