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2013/2014  KAN-CMO_TEGA  The EU as a global actor

English Title
The EU as a global actor

Course information
Language English
Exam ECTS 7.5 ECTS
Type Elective
Level Full Degree Master
Duration One Semester
Course period Spring
changes in schedule may occur.
Teaching day : Wednesday, week 6-16
Time Table Please see course schedule at e-Campus
Max. participants 50
Study board
Study Board for BSc/MSc i International Business and Politics, MSc
Course coordinator
  • Magali Gravier - Department of Intercultural Communication and Management (ICM)
Administrative Contact Person: Maja Dueholm
Main academic disciplines
  • International Politics
  • Political Science
Last updated on 05-11-2013
Learning objectives
This course aims at providing students with advanced knowledge on the EU in the particular field of the external action of the EU. With the Treaty of Lisbon, the EU has gained new tools to reinforce its capacity of action outside of its borders. But how exactly does this work? What does the EU do internationally? How significant an actor is it? This course aims at answering these questions by focusing on a selection of policy sectors as well as on institutional and decision-making aspects dealing with the EU’s role as a global actor. At the cross-roads between “classical” EU studies and international relations, the course will offer a choice of theories ranging from integration theories to theories of international relations in order to analyze the EU’s role as a global actor. Finally, the course aims at combining empirical and theoretical knowledge to action oriented information on the EU by using documents produced by expert organizations (think tanks, NGOs, interest groups, etc.). In doing so, the course intends to develop the student’s capacity to identify different types of information on the EU, to enhance their critical attitude towards this information mix and to enhance their capacity of analysis by combining these sources.
The course requires a significant input from students who are expected to take actively part in the course during classes but also before classes by preparing the lectures (read the proposed literature, look for additional literature/empirical data, make use of internet sources).
At the end of the course, students should be able to apply the knowledge acquired during the semester on a topic chosen by each group with the agreement of the course coordinator. Mixing empirical data, theories and action oriented information, each project must answer a research question and a hypothesis using relevant theories, empirical data and action oriented analyzes.
Course prerequisites
Students should have followed an introductory course to EU studies either from the BSc IBP or from any other programme.
Examination
The EU as a global actor - project:
Examination form Home assignment - written product
Individual or group exam Group exam, max. 5 students in the group
Individual papers are possible after agreement with the course coordinator.
For group assignments, the parts writen by students must by identifiable to allow individual grading.
Size of written product Max. 40 pages
For individual papers, the maximum length is 10 standard pages (= 2275 STU/pages).
For papers written by two students, the maximum length is 15 standard pages; three students: maximum 20 standard pages; four students: maximum 30 pages; five students: maximum 40 pages.
Assignment type Project
Duration Written product to be submitted on specified date and time.
Grading scale 7-step scale
Examiner(s) One internal examiner
Exam period May/June, The projects are turned in 3 weeks after the last class.
Make-up exam/re-exam
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
In the case of a re-exam, a new and different project topic must be chosen. In other words, students cannot turn in a project on the same topic than the one turned in for the ordinary exam.
Course content and structure
The course consists of 10 lectures. Each lecture lasts 3 hours.

Lecture 1. Introduction and set up. Lecture by Magali Gravier.
Lecture 2. Theories and Issues (Knill & Smith, Chapter 1-3). Lecture by Magali Gravier.
Lecture 3. EU institutions and EU decision making process: a crash reminder (Knill & Smith, Chapter 4; a bit more than a crash reminder: Elizabeth Bomberg, John Peterson, Richard Corbett Chapter 2-7). Lecture by Magali Gravier.
Lecture 4. Democracy and legitimacy: the EU’s particularity among IOs (Knill & Smith, Chapter 6;). Lecture by Magali Gravier.
Lecture 5. The EU’s foreign policy (Knill & Smith, Chapter 5, 7, 8). Lecture by Magali Gravier.
Lecture 6. The EU and Global Political Economy (Knill & Smith, Chapter 11). Lecture by Eleni Tsingou.
Lecture 7. The EU as a Trade Power (Knill & Smith, Chapter 12). Lecture by Eleni Tsingou.
Lecture 8. The EU and the BRICs: the emerging New World (Knill & Smith, Chapter 16) . Lecture by Luigi Manzetti.
Lecture 9. The EU and the USA (Knill & Smith, Chapter 17). Lecture by Luigi Manzetti.
Lecture 10. The EU’s Security and Defence Policy & concluding session (Knill & Smith, Chapter 9) . Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 1. Introduction and set up. Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 2. Theories and Issues (Knill & Smith, Chapter 1-3). Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 3. EU institutions and EU decision making process: a crash reminder (Knill & Smith, Chapter 4; a bit more than a crash reminder: Elizabeth Bomberg, John Peterson, Richard Corbett Chapter 2-7). Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 4. Democracy and legitimacy: the EU’s particularity among IOs (Knill & Smith, Chapter 6;). Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 5. The EU’s foreign policy (Knill & Smith, Chapter 5, 7, 8). Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 6. The EU and Global Political Economy (Knill & Smith, Chapter 11). Lecture by Eleni Tsingou.

Lecture 7. The EU as a Trade Power (Knill & Smith, Chapter 12). Lecture by Eleni Tsingou.

Lecture 8. The EU and the BRICs: the emerging New World (Knill & Smith, Chapter 16) . Lecture by Magali Gravier.

Lecture 9. The EU and the USA (Knill & Smith, Chapter 17). Lecture by Luigi Manzetti.

Lecture 10. The EU’s Security and Defence Policy & concluding session (Knill & Smith, Chapter 9) . Lecture by Magali Gravier.
 
Teaching methods
The course consists of 10 lectures. Each class lasts 3 hours. Classes 1 to 3 will set the frame of the course and will mainly consist of a lecture and class discussion. Starting with class 4, each class will consist of a lecture by the teacher, a substantial student presentation and class discussion. The lecture aims at providing a general frame and general input on each topic. The student presentations are a substantial part of the course. They present critically a particular aspect of the topic of the day. Student presentations require group work and group research 1) to find additional scientific literature on the topic of the day, 2) to assess selected internet resources, 3) to assess the relevance of selected action oriented organizations (IOs, NGOs, interest groups, think tanks, etc.). This additional information is part of the presentation, it is presented and critically assessed during the presentation. Group work is based on principles of cooperative learning.
Expected literature
  • Christopher Knill and Michael Smith, 2011. International Relations and the European Union, OUP, 2nd edition. (Main textbook – compulsory reading)
  • Elizabeth Bomberg, John Peterson, Richard Corbett, 2012. The European Union. How does it work?, OUP, 3d edition. (Reminder on basics about the EU)


Additional scientific literature can be found in the following journals (indicative list):
 

  • Journal of Common Market Studies
     
  • Journal of European Public Policy
     
  • European Union Politics
     
  • European Integration online Papers
     
  • European Journal of Political research
     
  • Journal of Contemporary European Research
     
  • New Political Economy
     
  • International Organizations
     
  • International studies
     
  • International Studies Review
     
  • Political Studies Review
     
  • Millenium
Last updated on 05-11-2013