EUM5010 - European Integration: History,Theory Implications

Leader: Dr Natalie Doyle

Offered

Clayton First semester 2007 (Day)

Synopsis

Students in this unit will explore the genesis of the European Union, its major historical milestones, institutional realizations and public policy development (CAP, EU law, EMU,CFSP/ESDP) from an interdisciplinary perceptive. They will be exposed to the major theories formulated to account for its formation in the context of a wider discussion of the regionalization induced by globalization. They will be given guidance to pursue the exploration of specific EU policy outcomes at EU level and Member state level and be encouraged to make autonomous use of a wide range of resources including on-line material.

Objectives

1. a developed understanding of the conceptual difficulties associated with the study of the process of European Integration leading up to the creation of the European Union
2. informed appreciation of the novelty of the European Union as post-national mode of governance
3. understanding of the major theories of European integration, their limitation and their place in the wider debate surrounding globalization
4. understanding of the socio-cultural norms that have informed European integration as well of the tensions that have beset the process
5. knowledge of the major public policy developments pursued by the European Commission and their impact on the national policies of member-states
6. strong skills in the critical reading of a variety of texts and the academic scholarship based upon those texts;
7. strong skills in critical oral and written assessment of the academic scholarship, including methods, assumptions and uses of evidence, and in organising and defending a verbal and written argument based upon those assessments;
8. a capacity to devise, plan and successfully complete a research essay;
9. a capacity to reflect upon and make critical use of a range of resources including, where relevant, on-line materials

Assessment

a critical review of a work of interpretation or conceptualisation relevant to a seminar theme and the student's research essay, given first as a seminar presentation (10%), and then revised into a written review paper in light of seminar group comments and a written assessment by the coordinator (20%) (2000 words) : 30%
research essay devised and developed by the student (5000 words) : 50%
reflective response to a set question, in a take-home examination (2000 words) : 20%
Students completing the unit at fifth level will be expected to demonstrate the acquisition of a higher level of analytical skills and a greater understanding of the key conceptual and methodological issues involved in analysing the world significance of the process of European integration

Contact hours

22 hours per semester offered in block mode

Prohibitions

EUM4010