History, Institutions and Policies of the EU

Description

The course begins with an introduction to European integration, the post-World War II geopolitical context and the key theories that have been put forward by scholars to account for the process of integration.  With context and theory in mind, students will study, and seek to explain, subsequent developments in European integration from the establishment of the European Communities to the most recent Treaty reforms.  Students will learn about the composition, the roles, and the functioning of the European Union’s institutions as well as the various steps of the policy-making process.  Particular attention will be paid to the Single Market and Economic and Monetary Union, with students critically analyzing the success of these programmes.  Students will study the EU’s programme of enlargement and considers its consequences for the EU, its member states, and (potential) candidate states.  The course ends with students reflecting on Europe in crisis and asking what next for the EU and European integration.

Compétences requises

Students should have a basic understanding of the concept of European integration and the functioning of the European Union.  Those who feel they lack this should read John McCormick ‘Understanding the European Union : A Concise Introduction’, Palgrave Macmillan, 6th Edition, 2014.

Compétences visées

Through this course students will develop a broad understanding of the process of European integration: its origins, its evolution, and its institutional and policy outcomes. 

Students will gain the knowledge and tools to allow them to formulate opinions on matters relating to European integration, and will gain in confidence presenting and defending these positions.  Students will have the opportunity to take part in class debates and in discussions within smaller groups.  Students will be asked to draw and report conclusions, and to make both individual and group presentations.

Bibliographie

Essential

1.       John McCormick, Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction, Palgrave MacMillan, 5^th Edition, 2011.
2.       Michelle Cini& Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragan (Eds), European Union Politics, Oxford University Press, 5^th Edition, 2016.
3.       EU News Sites : EU Observer ; Euractiv
4.       Think Tank websites : Centre for European Reform ; European Council on Foreign Relations ; Centre for European Policy Studies ; European Policy Centre

Additional

5.       Desmond Dinan (Eds), Origins and Evolution of the European Union, Oxford University Press, 2^nd Edition, 2014.
6.       European Union, Consolidated Treaties – Charter of Fundamental Rights, Publications Office of the European Union, 2010.
7.       Ian Bache, Simon Bulmer, Stephen George, and Owen Parker, Politics in the European Union, Oxford University Press, 4th Edition, 2015
8.       Simon Hix and BjørnHøyland, The Political System of the European Union, Palgrave MacMillan, 3^rd Edition, 2011.
9.       Daniel Kenealy, John Peterson, and Robert Corbett (Eds), The European Union : How does it work ?, Oxford University Press, 4th Edition, 2015
10.    John Peterson and Michael Shackleton (Eds), The Institutions of the European Union, Oxford University Press, 3^rd Edition, 2012.
11.    Helen Wallace, Mark A. Pollack, and Alasdair Young, Policy-Making in the European Union, Oxford University Press, 7^th Edition, 2014.
12.    Robert Ladrech, Europeanization and National Politics, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
13.    Cécile Leconte, Understanding Euroscepticism, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.