Module Information
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 15 x one hour lectures |
| Seminars / Tutorials | 8 x one hour seminars |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | 2,500 word essay | 40% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours | 60% |
| Supplementary Exam | Students may, subject to Faculty approval, have the opportunity to resit this module. For further clarification please contact the Academic Administrator in the Department of International Politics. |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module, students should be able to.
1. Critically evaluate the principal debates about conceptualising the EU in international relations
2. Analyze the central components of foreign policy and foreign policy making
3. Evaluate the role of the EU in international aid, trade and development policy
4. Demonstrate an understanding of the EU's relations with a selection of `great' powers and developing states
5. Discuss the `militarisation' of the EU
6. Analyze the merging of internal and external security in the EU
7. Critically re-evaluate emerging approaches to the study of the EU's Global role
Brief description
The module examines the role of the EU in the International system. It conceptualizes the `actorness' of the EU and examines the constituent parts of its foreign policy. The core of the module explores the international relations of the EU by analysing key concepts and policies through specific case studies. It examines the EU's role across a range of `hard `and `soft' foreign policy fields from trade and aid to diplomacy and intervention. The regional case studies look at EU's relations with both `great' powers and the developing world. The central theme centres on the rationale and implications of EU's policies and actions (or inaction) investigating the range of explanations and understandings from normative/ethical to realist inspired arguments.
Content
- The EU in the global economy - EU and China
- The World'r biggest donor - The EU and Africa
- EU Enlargement & Partnerships - Russia
- From foreign policy to security policy
- The EU-US security partnership
- Europe and Global conflict management
- The EU in the Balkans
- The merging of internal and external security
- Force for Good or a European `national' interest?
Module Skills
| Skills Type | Skills details |
|---|---|
| Application of Number | N/A |
| Communication | Students will learn how to present their ideas both verbally and in writing and how to present their arguments most effectively. They will understand the importance of information and clear communication and how to exploit these. They will know how to use the many sources of information available and how to use the most appropriate form of communication to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Seminars will be run in groups where oral discussion and presentations will form the main medium of teaching and the emphasis throughout the module will be on student participation and communication. This is facilitated by group-role play based on teams operating within and beyond the seminar environment. |
| Improving own Learning and Performance | The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from both the convener and fellow students alike. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and to exercise their own initiative, including searching for sources, compiling reading lists, and deciding (under guidance) the direction of their essay and presentation topics. Group work is integral to the seminars and provides opportunities for students to reflect individually and collectively on their performance. The need to contribute to the group presentation in seminars and to meet an essay deadline will focus students¿ attention on the need to manage their time and opportunity resources well. |
| Information Technology | Students will be expected to submit their work in word-processed format. Also, students will be encouraged to search for sources of information on the web, as well as seeking sources through electronic information sources (such as Web of Science and OCLC). Students will also be expected to make use of the resources that will be available on the Blackboard VLE. |
| Personal Development and Career planning | The discussions in particular will help to develop students¿ verbal and presentation and team-working skills. Learning about the process of planning an essay and a presentation, framing the parameters of the projects, honing and developing the projects and seeing through to completion will contribute towards students¿ portfolio of transferable skills. |
| Problem solving | Independent project work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of an essay will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The need to research and prepare seminar presentations will also enable students to develop independent project skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of students¿ ability to work alone can be undertaken. |
| Research skills | The submission of the essay will reflect the independent research skills of students. The need to locate appropriate research resources and write up the results will also facilitate research skills. Research preparation for a seminar presentation will also enable students to develop independent project skills. A final examination will ensure that an assessment of students¿ ability to work alone can be undertaken. |
| Subject Specific Skills | Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: * Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module * Ability to evaluate competing perspectives * Demonstrate subject specific research techniques * Apply a range of methodologies to complex historical and political problems |
| Team work | Seminars will consist in part of small group role-playing activities where students will be obliged to prepare, present and discuss as a group the core issues related to seminar topics. Such class room debates and discussions are a vital component of the module learning experience. |
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6