Module Information
Course Delivery
Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
---|---|
Lecture | 18 Hours. (18 x 1 hour) |
Seminars / Tutorials | 6 Hours. (6 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 (1 x 2 hours) | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 3,000 word essay in lieu of exam, if exam element failed | 50% |
Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 1,000 word assignment, in lieu of seminar performance | 10% |
Supplementary Assessment | 1 x 2,500 word essay, if essay element failed | 40% |
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
Content
Lecture Topics:
Setting the Scene
1. Introduction to the module: What is Europe and why study the EU?
2. The Historical Legacy
3. Theories of European Integration
4. Theories of European Governance
Governing Europe
5. The Institutions of the EU: The Councils
6. The Institutions of the EU: The European Commission
7. The Institutions of the EU: The European Parliament
8. EU Law and the Courts
9. Legitimacy & Democracy
10. The Lisbon Treaty
Policies and Issues
11. Policies and Processes
12. Enlarging the EU
13. Market-Building Policies: The Economic and Monetary Union
14. Market-Cushioning Policies: Environmental Policy
15. Non-Market Policies: European Foreign and Security Policy
16. Case Study: Old Member States: The United Kingdom
17. Case Study: New Member States: Romania
18. Conclusion and Exam Briefing
Seminars
1. History or Theory? Understanding the EU
2. Where Does Power Lie: Commission, Council or Parliament?
3. The Lisbon Treaty. The EU after Constitutional Failure
4. Enlargement: Where Does Europe End?
5. Market-Cushioning Policies: European Environmental Policy
6. European Foreign Policies: CFSP
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.
Transferable skills
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