All programmes > European Economy: Historical, Social and Global Perspectives

European Economy: Historical, Social and Global Perspectives (B-KUL-N0A02A)

6 ECTSEnglish26 First termCannot be taken as part of an examination contract
Buyst Erik
OC Master European Studies – Letteren

Aims

The course has two goals.

First, it offers tools to analyze the mechanisms that determined the transformation of the European economy from a mainly rural and crafts oriented economy to a complex post-industrial economy.

Second, it investigates why periods of economic integration were followed by periods of economic desintegration during the last two centuries.

Previous knowledge

 No specific prior knowledge is required for this course. 

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

6 ects. European Economy: Historical, Social and Global Perspectives (B-KUL-N0A02a)

6 ECTSEnglishFormat: Practical26 First term
Buyst Erik
OC Master European Studies – Letteren

Content

The content of this course consists of the following components:
 
-The British Industrial Revolution (late 18th - early 19th centuries)
-Early Industrialization on the Continent (first half 19th century)
-Industrialization in the European 'periphery' and the rise of neo-mercantilism (second half 20th century)
-Instability in the 1920s
-The Great Depression of the 1930s
-European Economic Integration in a Global Perspective
-European Economic Integration, 1945-1990: The East
-Europe from the 1980s until 2010

Course material

All readings are available in a course reader on Toledo:
Reading List
 
1. The British Industrial Revolution
2. Early Industrialization on the European Continent
3. Industrialization in the European 'Periphery' and The Rise of Neo-Mercantilism;
4. Instability in the 1920s in Western and Eastern Europe
5. The Great Depression of the 1930s
6. European Economic Integration in a Global Perspective
7. European Economic Integration, 1945-1990: the East
8. Europe from the 1980s until 2010
    

Format: more information

The course is organized as a discussion of the assigned readings. At every session two to three students present the main arguments and a motivated assessment of the readings (first hour). To facilitate the collective discussion (second hour) all other students prepare for each session a two to three page commentary on the readings. These commentaries are NOT just a summary of the texts. They should ALSO provide a motivated assessment of the readings and a preparation for the collective discussion. The commentaries might include, among other things, proposed topics for discussion, comparisons with similar mechanisms in other areas or periods, and questions about difficult concepts or arguments in the readings. These commentaries should be handed in at each session. Late commentaries will not be accepted.

Evaluation

Evaluation: European Economy: Historical, Social and Global Perspectives (B-KUL-N2A02a)

Type : Continuous assessment without exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Report, Presentation, Participation during contact hours
Type of questions : Open questions
Learning material : Course material

Explanation


Students' performance in the course will be evaluated on:

-the presentation of the readings, which will count for 40 percent of the final mark. Is the student able to grasp the main arguments of the author? Is the student able to formulate a motivated assessment of the text? What about presentation skills?

-the two to three page commentaries, which will count for another 40 percent. Is the student able to grasp the main arguments of the author? Is the student able to formulate a motivated assessment of the text? 

-active participation in the collective discussions, which will count for 20 percent of the final mark. Is the student able to communicate her/his arguments in a clear way?

If the student does not participate in the presentation of the readings the student receives NA (not taken) for the entire course unit. If the student does not participate in handing in the commentaries or in the collective discussions, the assessment of these partial evaluation(s) is counted as a 0-score within the weighted final result.

When submitting assignments, the agreed deadline is respected. Possible deviations are not negotiable. If special individual circumstances have arisen, one should contact the ombuds service before the deadline. If the deadline is not respected, the assessment of the component in question will be counted as a 0-score within the weighted final result, unless for a valid reason a new submission date is determined after the application.

Students are responsible for submitting work that is free of fraud and plagiarism (www.kuleuven.be/english/education/plagiarism/index) and should follow the faculty guidelines for this. Plagiarism is punished with the sanctions provided for in the university education and examination regulations (http://www.kuleuven.be/education/regulations).

The evaluation characteristics and/or the determination of the final result of the resit are different from those of the first examination opportunity. During the resit, the collective discussion no longer forms part of the evaluation and the final assessment consists solely of the presentation and the commentaries.