Required in stage
Optional in stage
First term
Second term
Both terms
This year
Next year
Alternating years
External
Prerequisites
Taught by
Language of instruction
Duration
LevelInternational Relations and European Integration since World War II (B-KUL-F0GA3A)
Aims
This course analyses the European (dis-)integration process in the context of the international relations since World War II. It examines to what extent, how and why European countries cooperated, integrated and competed between 1945 and today. The course also explains how and why both 'Europe' and 'integration' were defined in different ways during this period.
Previous knowledge
Students should have a basic knowledge of the institutions and policies of the EU. They should know the main institutions of the EU and their tasks, as well as the main policy areas of the EU. Students who do not have this basic knowledge should carefully read the following two internet sources on the EU-website:
Europe in 12 lessons, http://europa.eu/abc/12lessons/index_en.htm
Basic information on the European Union, http://europa.eu/about-eu/basic-information/index_en.htm
Content
This course analyses the European (dis-)integration process in the context of the international relations since World War II. It examines to what extent, how and why European countries cooperated, integrated and competed between 1945 and today. The course also explains how and why both 'Europe' and 'integration' were defined in different ways during this period.
In a chronological way this course will focus on:
the construction of a European order: the increased cooperation between EC/EU Member States focus on internal interaction
the place of Europe in the world: Europe's position during the Cold War, and Europe's relations with its external environment (other states and international institutions) focus on external interaction
With the aim of better understanding European integration and international relations, this course will also deal with several analytical concepts, such as 'interests', 'norms', 'security dilemma', 'social learning', 'entrepreneurship', 'context', 'domestic factors', 'legitimacy', …
As it is impossible to discuss in one semester all dimensions of 'International Relations and European Integration since WWII', the main focus of the course is a) on the interrelationship between east-west relations and European integration and b) on the major turning points and structural changes and problems in the course of European history since 1945. By continuously making a link between events and developments in the previous decades and current events and developments, this course aims at illuminating and explaining recurrent themes and underlying processes and structures in the process of European integration.
Course material
Text book
Articles and literature
Is also included in other courses
Activities
6.0 ects. International Relations and European Integration since World War II (B-KUL-F0GA3a)
Description of learning activities
Section 1: Introduction
Basic concept: 'European integration'
Analytical concepts: explaining European integration and international relations
Section 2: The East-West division, the start of the Cold War, and European disintegration (1945-1950)
Textbook chapter 1
Section 3: Early integration efforts: success and failure (1950-1955)
Textbook chapters 1 & 2
Section 4: The European Community and the decade of De Gaulle (1955-1968)
Textbook chapter 2 & 3
Section 5: Euro-optimism makes way for economic crisis and tensions between Member States (1968-1978)
Textbook chapter 4
Section 6: Slow revival against the background of a tense international situation (1978-1985)
Textbook chapter 5
Section 7: Towards European Union (1985-1991)
Textbook chapter 6
Section 8: The challenge of deepening and widening the Union (1991-2010)
Textbook chapter 7 & 8
Additional chapter: The Unsettled European Union 2000-2010, pp.133-156
Course material
: Textbook (available at Acco) and additional chapter (available on Toledo)
Textbook:
DINAN, Desmond (2004), Europe Recast. A History of European Union, Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, 357 p.
Additional chapter:
DINAN, Desmond (2010), Chapter 6: The Unsettled European Union 2000-2010, in 'Ever Closer Union: An Introduction to European Integration', Palgrave Macmillan, Basingstoke, pp.133-156.
(note: you should not read/study the last section on 'The Financial Crisis and Recession', pp.156-165)
Evaluation
Evaluation : International Relations and European Integration since World War II (B-KUL-F2GA3a)
Explanation
Written exam with following components:
Open questions (50%). Students are not allowed to use the textbook, the additional chapter, personal notes or any other documents! Use of a dictionary is allowed.
Two 'critical comments' (50%) (to be prepared before the exam):
Every student has to prepare two 'critical comments', on different time periods: one comment on a topic dealt with in section 2, 3 or 4, and one comment on an issue discussed in section 5, 6, 7 or 8 (or an even more recent topic).
In these comments students have to provide a critical assessment of the chosen topic. Doing so, students can refer to the relevant textbook chapters, and are strongly advised to make use of (some) additional literature (journal articles, books, internet sources, biographies, speeches, EU documents, …) that can support the comments made. Each comment is a (max.) one-page document. The bibliography of the sources used needs to be added on a separate page. Students attach their critical comments to the written exam.
Note: also for the re-take exam there is an obligation to hand in two critical comments. Exception to this rule: in case the student passed for this part of the exam, there is no obligation to hand in new comments. In that case, the student keeps his/her original grade for the comments. Students, however, also have the choice to hand in new comments, for which they will get a new grade. In any case, students are advised to check the breakdown of their grades, in order to find out whether or not they passed for the critical comments.
