EC
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
10
will study the EU’s programme of enlargement and consider 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.
Modalités d'organisation et de suivi
Students will receive a grade based on performance in class (presence, frequency
and quality of participation in debates/discussions, presentation) and a grade
based on a written exam to take place in December. The final grade will be the
average of these two grades.
Discipline(s)
- Études anglophones
Informations complémentaires
Bianca POLO DEL VECCHIO
biancapdv@unistra.fr
Bibliographie
Essential
1. John McCormick, ‘Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction’,
Palgrave MacMillan, 5th Edition, 2011.
2. Michelle Cini & Nieves Pérez-Solórzano Borragan (Eds), ‘European Union Politics’,
Oxford University Press, 5th 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, 2nd 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 Bjørn Høyland, ‘The Political System of the European Union’, Palgrave
MacMillan, 3rd 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, 3rd Edition, 2012.
11. Helen Wallace, Mark A. Pollack, and Alasdair Young, ‘Policy-Making in the European
Union’, Oxford University Press, 7th Edition, 2014.
12. Robert Ladrech, ‘Europeanization and National Politics’, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.
13. Cécile Leconte, ‘Understanding Euroscepticism’, Palgrave Macmillan, 2010.