EUR3110 - The European Union: Institutions, Policy-Making and Evolution

Leader: Pascaline Winand

Offered

Caulfield Second semester 2008 (Day)

Synopsis

This unit provides an introduction to the European Union. Now enlarged to 27 countries, the EU is a significant presence in the world. Students will study its origins, institutions, decision-making processes and policies. They will explore the interplay between its institutions, member states, agencies, regions and civil society. They will gain an understanding of its policy-making in various fields including trade, development and security and their impact on its external relations. They will discuss recent issues, developments and debates and consider its successes and failings. The unit will include short videos and recordings of key participants and events in the evolution of the EU.

Objectives

Students will gain:

1. an understanding of the origins and evolution of the European Union;
2. an informed appreciation of the EU's functions and powers, and the composition of its institutions and agencies, including the European Council, the Council of Ministers, the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice, the European Central Bank, the Committee of the Regions, the European Environment Agency;
3. an understanding of EU policies including Competition Policy, the Common Commercial Policy, the Common Agricultural Policy, Economic and Monetary Union, Environmental Policy, Social Policy, Common Foreign and Security Policy/European Security and Defence Policy, Development Policy, Justice and Home Affairs;
4. an understanding of key internal and external challenges to the European Union, including enlargement, social policy, debates on the constitutional treaty and relations between European citizens, EU institutions and EU member states;
5. an appreciation of the functioning of EU institutions in EU external relations;
6. an understanding of the relations of the EU with key countries and regions, including the United States, Asia and Australia;
7. strong skills in the critical reading of a variety of texts and the academic scholarship based upon those texts;
8. 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;
9. a capacity to devise, plan and successfully complete a research essay; and
10. a capacity to reflect upon and make critical use of a range of resources including, where relevant, on-line materials.

Assessment

Group oral presentation to be written up as 500 word essay paper (500 words): 12%; Essay (2000 words): 44%; 2-hour exam (2000 words): 44%; Additional comment: Students taking the unit at 3rd year level will be encouraged in their assessment tasks to engage with the question of the internal and external challenges facing the European Union at a higher degree of complexity.

Contact hours

2 hours (1 lecture and 1 tutorial) per week

Prohibitions

EUR2110