The aim of understanding "Politics of the European Union" is linked to its complex governance structure. It presents the EU as an emerging "political system", in which the government, policies and the politics of the system are inextricably linked. It looks at the way the EU is analysed and studied and provides comprehensive coverage of EU politics and a method of conceptualizing the EU comparatively. The course will confront students with the latest academic findings in the field of EU governance (EU institutions, Euroscepticism, past and upcoming European elections, Future of Europe, EU enlargement etc.). +++ The course is taught in English. +++ No single book is exactly coterminous with the syllabus. But the following are useful background readings recommended for the preparation of the seminar in advance:
Simon Hix and Bjorn Hoyland (2022) The Political System of the European Union. London: Bloombury.
Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt (eds) 2020: Euroscepticism and the Future of Europe - views from the capitals, London: Palgrave.
Michael Kaeding, Johannes Pollak and Paul Schmidt (eds.) 2024: Enlargement and the Future of Europe - views from the capitals, Wiesbaden: Springer.
Class discussion will be more interesting if we are all up-to-date on EU current events. In addition to the coverage in international and national newspapers, you might also find https://www.euractiv.com/ and https://euobserver.com/ and https://www.politico.eu/ helpful. |