| Learning objectives |
- 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 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.
|
| Description of the 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, oral presentation and work for this
course is through active participation in class. Students receive
feedback via e-mail or in class for the choice of their project
topic and the formulation of their research question. |
| Student workload |
| Lectures |
30 hours |
| Exam |
34 hours |
| Preparation |
142 hours |
| Total |
206 hours |
|
| Expected literature |
- Christopher Hill and Michael Smith, 2017. International
Relations and the European Union, OUP, 3d edition.
(Main textbook – compulsory reading)
|
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