Module Information

Module Identifier

IP33820

Module Title

EUROPEAN POLITICS

Academic Year

2008/2009

Co-ordinator

Dr Elena A Korosteleva-Polglase

Semester

Semester 1

Course Delivery

Delivery Type	Delivery length / details
Lecture	18 Hours. (18 x 1 hour)
Seminars / Tutorials	8 Hours. (8 x 1 hour)

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Seminar Presentation	10%
Semester Assessment	2,500 word essay	40%
Semester Exam	2 Hours Exam	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

-Have a detailed and critical awareness of contemporary politics and policies within the European Union and the union's importance to the states of Europe.
-Identify and apply appropriate concepts and theories to enable them to critically analyse the complexities of European integration.
-Recognise the major debates and issues concerning the exercise of power and authority within and between constituent levels of government in Europe.
-Demonstrate, through written work and in seminar discussions, an awareness and understanding of different national and European level policies and interests.
-Effectively deploy skills of: identification and location of appropriate sources; independent study; writing (essays and examinations); IT skills and time-management.

Brief description

This module provides the foundation for a comprehensive analysis and understanding of the concepts and dynamics of the European Union (EU). It examines the key institutions and state actors in European integration and the policies and issues that are central to the future of Europe.

Aims

The module aims to provide the knowledge for students to examine the history, concepts, institutions and policies of the EU, and thereby aim to give students a thorough grounding in the major political issues and problems the EU faces. This will enable students to critically analyse the role of the EU in national, regional and international politics.

Content

The module provides an overview of the emergence of the European Union and the theoretical approaches to European integration. It then moves on to examine in more detail the evolving institutional framework of the EU and the issues surrounding its reform. The second half of the module analyses the key policy areas and assesses the role of the EU in the current international climate. It also explores the implications of the EU for states of Europe, both those who are EU members and those who are not.

Transferable skills

Students will develop, practice and test a range of transferable skills. Throughout, students will be required to practice and enhance their reading, comprehension and thinking skills. In lectures students will develop listening and note taking skills, as well as analytical skills. In seminars, students will participate in delivery of group presentations that will develop team working. These also foster listening, explaining and debating skills. Essay writing demands development of skills in independent research, writing and IT, and the examination will test skills of succinct and focussed writing, as well as clear organization of thought, under time constraint conditions.

10 ECTS credits

Reading List

General Text
(2007.) European Union politics /[edited by] Michelle Cini. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press Primo search Bache, Ian. (2006.) Politics in the European Union /Ian Bache, Stephen George. 2nd ed. Oxford University Press Primo search Nugent, Neill. (2006.) The government and politics of the European Union /Neill Nugent. 6th ed. Palgrave Macmillan Primo search

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6