2013/2014  KAN-MLM_76  The Spanish crisis in its European Context

English Title

The Spanish crisis in its European Context

Course information
Language	English
Exam ECTS	7.5 ECTS
Type	Elective
Level	Full Degree Master
Duration	One Semester
Course period	Autumn Changes in course schedule may occur Friday 13.30-15.10, week 36-41, 43-46
Time Table	Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Study board	Study Board for MA in International Business Communication
Course coordinator
Carsten Jacob Humlebæk - Department of International Business Communication (IBC)
Main academic disciplines
Globalization, International Business, markets and studies International Political Economy Language and Intercultural Studies
Last updated on 14-11-2013

Learning objectives

The student must demonstrate a detailed understanding of the most important aspects of the current economical, political and social crisis in Spain a detailed understanding of Spain's integration into the EU and its current position within Europe a detailed understanding of the most important aspects of the current economical and political crisis in Europe a detailed understanding of how the two crises are related ability to select and use appropriate theoretical and methodological approaches to the chosen problem ability to find, select and use relevant sources for the investigation of the chosen problem ability to present the problem investigated in a logical and organised manner

Course prerequisites

- General knowledge of recent Spanish political and economical history. - A good working knowledge of Spanish – particularly reading capability - is an asset but not a necessary prerequisite.

Examination

The Spanish crisis in its European context: Examination form Oral Exam Individual or group exam Individual 24 hours for preparation of a given (by lots) subject Duration 30 min. per student, including examiners' discussion of grade, and informing plus explaining the grade Preparation time With the listed preparation time: 1440 Minutes Grading scale 7-step scale Examiner(s) Internal examiner and second internal examiner Exam period December/January Aids allowed to bring to the exam All written and electronic aids Make-up exam/re-exam Same examination form as the ordinary exam

Course content and structure

The principal focus of the course will be on the Spanish crisis, but it is placed within the context of the European crisis in order to discuss how the two crises are connected. The course begins by tracing the contours of the most important problems in the current economical, political and social crisis that both Spain and Europe is going through these years. After this introduction to the crisis, the course focuses on Spain’s relationship to and integration into Europe examining critically the famous Spanish Europeanism; from its status as different and marginal in relation to the rest of Western Europe via the successful process of integration to the uncertain panorama of the present crisis both with respect to the future of the European project and with respect to Spain’s commitment to it.The reasons behind the crises are studied intensively, firstly in relations to the international, finantial-economical crisis and its effects on Europe, and secondly the Spanish crisis. The aim is to distinguish to which extent the Spanish crisis can be said to be caused by conjunctures – and therefore mainly of equal impact on the European countries – and to which extent its causes are determined by structural problems or constraints in order to contribute to an explanation of why the crisis has struck harder in Spain than in most of its neighbouring countries. As the subject of the course is in continuous development, it will be needed to search for the most recent publications and data as basis of the discussions. The course therefore includes training in information retrieval capabilities and specific tasks of information retrieval will be distributed among the students according to their prior knowledge and afterwards they will present their findings to the rest of the class.

Teaching methods

The course will consist of both classical introduction to certain themes by the teacher followed by discussion as well as presentations of their findings by the students after specific information-search tasks. This kind of collaborative teaching will also include presentations of Spanish texts by the students who know Spanish to the rest of class. If other students have particular capabilities, f.ex. in economics, the course will try to take advantage of those skills in a similar way.

Student workload

Lectures 20 hours Preparation 185 hours Exam 20 hours

Further Information

The working language of the course will be English.

Expected literature

The course will necessarily be based on the most recent works on the subject, mainly articles from newspapers and journals, which is why it is not possible to make a bibliography for the course at present.