Course content and objectives
In this course, we will look at the process of European integration from a historical perspective. This perspective entails tracing the most important steps in the creation of the European Union (EU). These steps are most visible in the Treaties signed by the Member States and the concurrent development from the ‘Communities’ to the ‘Union’, i.e. the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) and the European Economic Community (EEC) (1950s) and the Maastricht Treaty creating the EU (1990s). These are the founding Treaties. Since the 1990s, several changes were made to the Treaties culminating in the Consitutional Treaty (never in force) and the Lisbon Treaty (currently in force and the legal foundation of EU policy making). However, the Treaty development is but one aspect of the multi-faceted nature of European integration. To get the ‘full picture’, if this is even possible, we also have to look at the international and geo-political context in which this process took place as well as the diplomatic relations between states and the negotiations between heads of states and governments. With the creation of the first Communities, supranational institutions, the European Commission, the Courts and the European Parliament, had been created, which developed into actors of their own rights, trying to shape the direction and trajectory of the integration process alongside national actors. Moreover, although European integration has been for many years an elite-driven process, the public(s) of the Member States and the social interaction among EU citizens have become increasingly important due to the increasing ‘politicisation’ of EU policy makig. This ‘politicisation’ is reflected, most importantly, in the election of the European Parliament, but it also affects the political system of the Member States through changes in public discourse and party competittion.
Learning objectives
As this brief sketch illustrates, to get the ‘full picture’ of European integration is a non-attainable goal, given that our understanding depends on the (theoretical) viewpoints and the aspects we emphasize (or neglect) in explaining this process. The main learning objective, therefore, is a modest one:
To provide a basic understanding of the European integration process with a focus on national and supranational elites; this objective entails understanding:
- The Treaty development as well as cooperation among Member States through non-binding means (‘outside of the Treaties’)
- The role of national and supranational actors in these developments
- The transfer of competences to the Communities/the Union which is the foundation for EU policy making
The second objective relates to the study of historical processes. Apart from secondary sources, the mandatory readings, we engage in this course with primary (historical) sources as well as legal documents to analyse these processes. This course is part of the political science curriculum and not a history class. However, engaging with primary sources is a critical skill in social science research in general. Hence, this course aims at to provide research training by practicing the following skills:
- Contextualizing primary sources and simulating archival research
- Searching for academic literature and evaluating arguments and evidence
- Developing arguments based on concepts and empirical evidence
Practicing these skills is directly related to the course requirements (see below).
Relation to the lecture in the EU module
The lecture in the module “Europäische Integration und Politik im europäischen Mehrebenensystem (A-1)” provides an overview of the EU institutions and policy making and introduces students to current debates and topics like EP elections or enlargement. The institutional framework of the EU has been established in the 1950s and the main features, despite significant changes, has been preserved until today. The overview of these institutions, given in the lecture, is thus invaluable for tracing some aspects of the integration process. Likewise, a great many of current topics resonate with classic debates of European integration.
Teaching methods
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
Due to the current situation, the course will be provided fully online!
The learning objectives and the teaching methods employed for the course as designed originally remain (more or less) the same regardless of the current situation, but the online implementation of these methods, obviously, affects interaction and (online) discussion.
In general, two types of methods are employed: interaction and discussion online (synchronous learning) as well as self-study and assignments (asynchronous learning).
Given the course requirements, asynchronous learning through the completion of assignments will be an important method. At the same, time, however, synchronous learning will be an important part of the course as well and there will be regular online sessions throughout the semester.
The methods in these sessions will be:
- Presentations by the course coordinator
- Hands-on practicing of research skills
- Participation of students in online discussion (e.g. answering assignment questions, moderating group discussions, presenting results)
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