All programmes > European Politics

European Politics (B-KUL-S0A48C)

6 ECTSEnglish39 Second term
Van Hecke Steven (coordinator) |  Pittoors Gilles |  Van Hecke Steven
POC Politieke wetenschappen

Aims

Upon completion of this course, the student has achieved the following objectives:

  • The student has knowledge of and insight into the origin, nature and functioning of the EU, the EU institutions and EU policy;
  • The student has developed an analytical capacity, by means of a set of conceptual frameworks and integration theories;
  • The student has a critical attitude towards European integration, the EU and European policy and towards scientific and non-scientific analyses of the EU;
  • The student has insight into the tension between the theory and practice of European integration;
  • The student is able to distinguish and estimate the respective role of interests, countries, persons and institutions in the European integration process, both in the short and longer term, and is able to link this to political current events in the EU;
  • The student is familiar with and can deal critically with primary sources from European integration history;
  • The student is able to express himself in correct and clearly written standard language and uses relevant, domain-specific terminology.

These objectives are communicated to the students at the start of the course.

Previous knowledge

At the start of this course, the student has a notion of the basic concepts and perspectives from the political science research domain.

The student is expected to (passively) have an interest in the European integration process, as well as to (actively) follow the political current affairs of the EU.

Is included in these courses of study

Activities

4 ects. Institutions and Policy of the European Union (B-KUL-S0A48a)

4 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture26 Second term
Pittoors Gilles
POC Politieke wetenschappen

Content

This learning activity consists of the following components:

 

Part I: The EU in context

The first set of lessons asks the fundamental questions about the nature of the EU, the way we perceive the EU, and the way we study the EU. Through which lenses do we (consciously or unconsciously) look at the EU, and what criteria are (consciously or unconsciously) used in assessing the EU in general and the EU institutions and policies in particular? The lessons present a wide variety of possible conceptual lenses (such as cooperation versus integration and intergovernmental versus supranational integration) and theoretical frameworks (such as neo-functionalism and liberal intergovernmentalism) to perceive, analyze and evaluate the EU and its institutions and policies. The concepts and insights from Part I form building blocks for the following lessons.

 

Part II: Institutions and Decision-Making

The second set of lessons focuses on the European Commission, the Council of Ministers and European Council, the European Parliament, the other institutions, and the interaction between these institutions. Attention is first paid to the composition, the internal functioning, the tasks, and the internal processes and areas of tension within each institution. Subsequently, attention is paid to the formal decision-making processes, the interinstitutional and interstate dynamics and the various fields of tension that influence European policy-making.

 

Part III: Policy

The third series of lessons starts with an analysis of the basic principles, competences, policy instruments and financial resources of the EU, so that students gain a clear view of the great diversity and complexity of EU policy. Subsequently, the course briefly discusses  the main policy areas, including policy fields such as the internal market, competition policy, economic and monetary policy, migration policy or foreign policy.

Course material

This learning activity will use the following course materials:

  • Handbook or reader (to be determined);
  • Additional literature (primary and secondary sources);
  • PowerPoint presentations;
  • Current events (to be followed through the media);
  • Personal notes.

 

The handbook and/or the reader are made available at the beginning of the semester via Politika Bookshop.

Toledo is used to provide PowerPoint presentations and additional literature, as well as for subject-related communication.

Format: more information

This learning activity is organized on campus. Students are expected to prepare the classes, actively contribute ideas and ask questions. The lecturer stimulates discussions by asking the students specific questions and making references to current events. The students are expected to follow current events.

 

This course is organized through block teaching during the first 9 weeks of the semester.

Is also included in other courses

2 ects. European Integration since 1945 (B-KUL-S0B00a)

2 ECTSEnglishFormat: Lecture13 Second term
Van Hecke Steven
POC Politieke wetenschappen

Content

In this learning activity, students study the major themes of European integration history: the emergence (Europe after WWII, the role of the US, Monnet and the Schuman plan, the creation of the ECSC), the Europe of the Communities (failure of the EDG, Treaties of Rome, de Gaulle and the empty chair crisis), the long 1970s (The Hague Summit, 1973 enlargement, eurosclerosis), the relaunch (Single European Act, enlargement, Maastricht Treaty, the Convention) and the period of crisis (management) since the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty (2009).

Course material

This learning activity will use the following course materials:

  • Handbook: S. Van Hecke & K. Vermeylen (2023). Why Europe? An integration history from A(denauer) to Z(elenskyy). Leuven: Lannoo Campus.
  • Additional literature (primary sources);
  • PowerPoint presentations;
  • Current events (to be followed through the media);
  • Personal notes.

 

The handbook and/or the reader are made available at the beginning of the semester via Politika Bookshop.

Toledo is used to provide PowerPoint presentations and additional literature, as well as for subject-related communication.

Format: more information

This learning activity is organized on campus. Students are expected to prepare the classes, actively contribute ideas and ask questions.

 

This course is organized through block teaching during the first 9 weeks of the semester.

Is also included in other courses

Evaluation

Evaluation: European Politics (B-KUL-S2A48c)

Type : Partial or continuous assessment with (final) exam during the examination period
Description of evaluation : Written, Participation during contact hours
Type of questions : Multiple choice, Open questions, Closed questions
Learning material : None

Explanation


Evaluation characteristics

The evaluation is composed of following activities:

  • The written, closed book exam includes a series of open questions, which assess both knowledge and insight. Students are expected to be able to make connections between different parts of the lecture series. Students should be able to integrate in their answers the knowledge and insights that are offered in the lectures and in the study material and that they themselves acquire by following European current events and reading primary sources from the history of European integration. The exam will also contain a series of short, closed questions and/or multiple choice questions.
  • Participation during contact hours

 

Determination of the final result

The course is evaluated by the lecturer(s), as announced via Toledo and the exam regulations. The result is calculated and expressed as an integral number on 20.

 

The end result for the learning activity Insitutions and Policy of the European Union is a weighted number that is determined as follows:

  • Exam: 100%

 

The end result for the learning activity European Integration since 1945 is a weighted number that is determined as follows:

  • Exam: 90%
  • Participation during contact hours: 10%

 

If the student does not take part in one (or more) of the partial evaluations, the assessment of the part(s) not taken is counted as a 0-score within the weighted final result.

 

Retaking exams

The evaluation characteristics and the determination of the final result of the retake exam are identical to the ones of the first examination opportunity, as described above. However, the score received for ‘participation during contact hours’ will be transferred to the second examination opportunity.

Information about retaking exams

See explanation 'retaking exams'.