This course will provide its students with a basic understanding of the structures underlying the contemporary European Union. It will cover different the EU institutions, methods of integration from Community method to policy coordination and decision-making processes from the ordinary legislative procedure to soft law. Finally, contemporary controversies surrounding the EU project such as Brexit, populism, the “refugee crisis”, and the financial crisis will be investigated in discussion-based classes. The ultimate goal of the course is a better understanding of what the EU does and what it can, or cannot, do. The course is especially useful for all students who want to study political science or related disciplines, as it will introduce them to the basic integration theories and some of the key concepts, such as supranationalism or national sovereignty.
Learning outcomes: at the end of the module, students should
- be able to identify and understand the functioning of the main EU institutions
- have a clear understanding of the main decision-making processes in the EU
- demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of the governance dynamics in specific policy areas
- be familiar with the main theories of European integration
- be aware of the main contemporary challenges facing European integration, including Brexit, populism and the “refugee crisis”
- be able to locate and analyse EU policy documents, legislation, action and case law, and to provide policy advice
- be able to write in an analytical and critical way
- be able to communicate EU issues effectively orally and in writing