| CODE | EST5335 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Current Issues in European Union Politics | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 05 - Postgraduate Modular Diploma or Degree Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 7 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 5 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | European Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The aim of this study-unit is to give students an understanding of the most prominent issues in contemporary European politics, primarily by utilising a comparative method grounded in both national and European politics. Topics to be covered include: - The difference between a two speed Europe and one of variable geometry; - The continuing importance of the Franco-German alliance for European cooperation; - BREXIT and the impact of the UK withdrawal on the EU, both in terms of its decision-making structures and its policy priorities; - The rise of Euroscepticism and turnout for EP elections; - The impact of membership on domestic political systems and continuing problems in implementing EU policy (and the growing body of infringement proceedings); - The importance of popular support for the integration process in the aftermath of the financial crisis. Study-Unit Aims: The central aim of this study-unit is to discuss some of the central issues being faced by the EU as it enters its 7th decade. The EU has faced periodic crisis throughout its history but the last decade has been especially problematic, including a financial crisis, a migration crisis and Brexit. In addition to a content-discussion of the most pressing issues in contemporary EU politics, this study-unit also seeks to heighten the analytical and critical skills of students, first by encouraging them to analyse each topic in a cross-disciplinary manner but also by encouraging students to see the inter-connectedness of these topics and to cultivate a sophisticated approach to discussing politics. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - research and compile a bank of knowledge in terms of each topic which includes accessing sources mined from the internet so as to ensure that perspectives are as current as possible; - clearly articulate their opinions in terms of each topic and to be able to articulate clearly how their opinion relates to those of the rest of the group; - use economic, political and legal sources in compiling their opinion and to use various disciplines in defending their opinions. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Establish and express opinions on current issues; - respond to the opinion of others and discuss based on the information provided by others; - Develop their analytical skills and improve their presentation skills by understanding how others respond to their opinions. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts: - 'European Union: power and policy-making鈥�, Jeremy Richardson and Sonia Mazey, (eds.). (4th Edition, Routledge, UK. 2015). - 鈥楾he Political System of the European Union鈥�, Simon Hix and Bjorn Hoyland (Palgrave, UK. 2011). - 鈥楶olicy-Making in the European Union鈥�, Helen Wallace, Mark Pollack, Christilla Roederer Rynning and Alasdair Young (8th Edition, Oxford University Press, UK. 2021). - 鈥楶arty Competition between Unequals鈥�, Bonnie Meguid (1st Edition, Cambridge University Press, UK. 2010). - Jean-Claude Piris (2011). 鈥業t is Time for the Euro Area to Develop Further Closer Cooperation Among its Members鈥�, NYU School of Law, Jean Monnet Working Paper 05/11. http://centers.law.nyu.edu/jeanmonnet/papers/11/110501.pdf. - Kral, David (2008), 鈥楳ulti 鈥� speed Europe and the Lisbon Treaty - threat or opportunity?, EUROPEUM Institute for European Policy, November 2008. http://www.europeum.org/doc/pdf/895.pdf. - Centre for European Reform (2016), Europe after BREXIT. https://www.cer.org.uk/sites/default/files/pb_euafterBrexit_15april16.pdf. - Taggart, P. and Szczerbiak, A. (2002). The Party Politics of Euroscepticism in EU Member and Candidate States. SEI Working Paper No. 51. https://www.sussex.ac.uk/webteam/gateway/file.php?name=sei-working-paper-no-51.pdf&site=266. - Jorg Monar, 鈥楾he European Union鈥檚 institutional balance of power after the Treaty of Lisbon鈥� http://ec.europa.eu/education/jean-monnet/doc/ecsa10/monarb_en.pdf. |
||||||||||||
| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Seminar | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
|
||||||||||||
| LECTURER/S | Mark Harwood |
||||||||||||
|
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
|||||||||||||