| Learning objectives |
To achieve the grade 12, students should meet the
following learning objectives with no or only minor mistakes or
errors:
- Identify the main EU institutions, the main governmental actors
and/or the main non-governmental actors involved in the policy and
law making processes relevant for the chosen project.
- Identify and show an understanding of the EU’s main external
policies relevant for the chosen project.
- Show an understanding of how the institutions and actors
identified for the chosen project influence the EU’s external
action.
- Find a research topic and formulate a research question.
- Select and apply theories accounting for the EU’s international
role in relation with the project
- Select relevant data relevant for the chosen project.
- Apply the selected theories to the data collected.
- Elaborate an argumentation making use of theories and data in
order to answer the research question.
- Reflect critically on the theories used and on the data
collected.
- Discuss the EU’s importance as a global
actor.
|
| Course prerequisites |
| Students should have followed an introductory
course to EU studies from any programme. |
| Examination |
|
The EU as a
Global Actor:
|
| Exam
ECTS |
7,5 |
| Examination form |
Home assignment - written product |
| Individual or group exam |
Individual exam |
| Size of written product |
Max. 10 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 |
Summer |
| Make-up exam/re-exam |
Same examination form as the ordinary exam
In the case of a re-exam, a new
project must be written. (It can be on the same topic, but studied
from a different angle).
|
Description of the exam
procedure
Projects are written on a topic chosen in agreement with the
course coordinator. Projects must mix empirical data and theories.
Projects must answer a research question which students have chosen
themselves.
The research question is answered using relevant theories and
empirical data.
|
|
| Course content and structure |
|
This course aims at providing BLC 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? Why is this important for BLC students?
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. Such
a political framework is very important for business students who
need to be aware of the EU’s international policies affecting
conditions of business in order to elaborate successful business
strategies. Finally, the course aims at combining empirical and
theoretical knowledge to action oriented information on the EU by
using documents produced by expert organizations. 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 so as to identify optimal or
sub-optimal conditions for business strategies.
The course consists of 10 lectures. Each lecture lasts 3 hours.
|
| 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. |
| Feedback during the teaching period |
| The principal way for students to receive
feedback on their readings and work for this course is through
active participation in lectures. |
| Student workload |
| Lectures |
30 hours |
| Exam |
34 hours |
| Preparation |
142 hours |
| Total |
206 hours |
|
| Expected literature |
- Christopher Hill and Michael Smith, 2011. International
Relations and the European Union, OUP, 2nd edition.
(Main textbook – compulsory reading) (primary textbook)
Elizabeth Bomberg, John Peterson, Richard Corbett, 2012. The
European Union. How does it work?, OUP, 3d edition.
(Reminder on basics about the EU)
|
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