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Identical coursesEU-US Relations (B-KUL-N0A77A)
Aims
At the end of this course, the student:
- has acquired a solid general knowledge and insight regarding transatlantic relationships between the US and the EU;
- has a sharpened ability for critical thinking about diplomacy, policy, negotiations, and domains of cooperation between the EU and the US;
- has the ability and the reflex to better identify similarities and differences between the US and the EU.
Previous knowledge
A basic knowledge and familiarity with European and American Institutions would help students interested to take this course.
Is included in these courses of study
- Master in de vergelijkende en internationale politiek (programma voor studenten gestart vóór 2024-2025) (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of International Politics (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (Programme for students started before 2024-2025) (Leuven) (Comparative American-European Studies) 60 ects.
- Master in de vergelijkende en internationale politiek (programma voor studenten gestart in 2024-2025 of later) (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of European Studies: Transnational and Global Perspectives (Programme for students started in 2024-2025) (Leuven) 60 ects.
Activities
4 ects. EU-US Relations (B-KUL-N0A77a)
Content
CLASSES
Classes 1-2-3-4
1. General presentation of the US and the EU
2. Broad historic overview of the EU-US relationship, its post war foundations and later evolution.
3. Trouble in the relationship during the last US Administration (2017-2021) ,attempts for a reset under the current US Administration (2021-2025) and expectations for the Transatlantic Relationship under a next US Administration (2025-2029)
4. Resilience in the Transatlantic Relationship
Classes 5-6
1. Establishment of diplomatic relations between the EU and the US.
2. Institutional ties between the EU and the US and other linkages.
3. Bandwidth of the EU-US relationship: overview of fields of cooperation.
Class 7
1. Economic and trade relations: hard core of the EU-US relationship.
Class 8
1. Security and defense policies in the European Union and in NATO
Classes 9-10
1. Foreign Policy: hard US Foreign Policy versus soft EU external relations?
2. What a practitioner must know in Washington DC and in Brussels.
Classes 11-12-13
1. Similarities and differences in EU and US approaches to China
2. Similarities and differences in EU and US approaches to Russia.
3. The War in Ukraine
1. Field study to the European External Action Service or another Institution in Brussels
COURSE SCHEDULE
2pm-4pm
Monday 23 September 2024
Monday 30 September 2024
Monday 7 October 2024
Monday 14 October 2024
Monday 21 October 2024
Monday 28 October 2024
Monday 4 November 2024
Monday 11 November 2024
Monday 18 November 2024
Monday 25 November 2024 (not available)
Monday 2 December 2024 (not available)
Monday 9 December 2024
Monday 16 December 2024
Ambassador Wouters will not be available on 25 November 2024 nor on 2 December 2024.
Classes on these two dates will be replaced by guest lectures, by a class on a different date, an event organized by the America Europe Fund or by the visit to an European Institution. Students will be informed accordingly trough Toledo.
Course material
Students will receive reading materials via Toledo. They are expected to take notes.
Format: more information
Traditional lectures will take the form of maximum 10 classes combined with discussion (Q&A). At least 3 high level guest lectures by invited practitioners will be part of this new course, as well as (possibly) one field trip to the European External Action Service or to another European Institution in Brussels, in full respect of faculty guidance.
Attendance is required.
Evaluation
Evaluation: EU-US Relations (B-KUL-N2A77a)
Explanation
The evaluation of this course consists of three parts:
1. Paper to be submitted by December 31st and to be discussed at the oral exam, representing 50% of the end score.
2. Oral exam on the content of the course, representing 50% of the end score.
3. Pass/Fail for attendance. Physical presence is required for but Students can be absent for 4 classes. Absence for 5 or more classes results automatically in a fail for the course.
Students need to pass for both components of the oral exam separately (i.e. obtain min. 50% for the paper and obtain min. 50% for the oral exam on the content of the course). If the student has taken all components of the exam but achieves a partial mark below 50%, the end result is the weighed total of the partial marks or a maximum of 9/20.
Information about retaking exams
Information about the retake modalities will be shared by the instructor via Toledo and in class.