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PSIR306 PROCESS OF EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

Course Objectives

This course aims to introduce students to the key challenges facing the European Union in the 21st century by

• explaining the theoretical basis of the process of integration;
• giving  an in depth understanding of the political processes and major policies of the EU in an historical perspective;
• outlining key internal and external policy areas and discuss the political debates surrounding them;
• introducing and addressing key debates about the EU’s role in the world.

Course Content

This course is designed as a general introduction to the process of European integration and the politics of the European Union (EU). The course consists of three parts: Part One traces the history of European integration from the end of the WWII through 2002. To facilitate different interpretations of the EU in the making, part one also reviews the main academic debates about European integration and about the Union. Part Two looks at the institutional the formal and informal aspects of EU governance. Part Three discusses the main policy areas ranging from agriculture to EMU. On the basis of the findings drawn from the theory and practice of European integration, the course address the relationship of the post-1995 enlargement with the challenge of deepening of the EU and seeks an answer to the question of what the future European integration may hold.

Course Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, the students are expected to be able to identify and or understand  

• the most important political, social and economic features of the European Union;
• the various levels of decision-making and their role in the EU’s system of governance;
• major EU policies regarding to various issues.