European Politics (21676)
Qualification: Degree in Political Sciences.
Year: 1st
Term: 1st
Number of ECTS credits: 4
Hours of student dedication: 100 hours
Teaching language: Spanish
Teachers: Javier Arregui
1. Introduction to the course
The main aim of this course is to equip students with a critical knowledge of the emerging political system of the EU and the political results it produces. It also covers the study of some of the key concepts, theories and analytical frameworks of political science to examine and explain the political process of the EU. At the end of the course students must have a clear and concise understanding of what European integration is and what it means, the extent to which the EU is a political system, the interests that compete to impact EU politics, the way EU institutions work or the ability to act that the different actors in the different phases of the political process have.
The course will be taught around the main building blocks on which the European political system and institutions are being built and their historical development since 1958. The course has four approaches that are clearly differentiated: descriptive, theoretic-analytic, empiric and critical normative.
2. Competences to be achieved
The objective if this course is that students acquire or develop the following skills and competences:
Subject specific knowledge (to know):
● the different theories that are able to explain the process of European integration.
● the concepts and theoretical tools developed by institutionalists and the theory of rational election in European integration studies. And other analytical tools developed in other sub disciplines such as international relations, political economy, public policy or comparative politics.
Generic competences (to know how to):
● ability to generate new ideas
● ability to write essays
● ability to structure public presentations and discussions on complex subjects.
Specific competences (to know):
● the development of the European political system and how it Works
● the political, economic and institutional basis on which the European integration process is based.
● the main European political actors.
● the main literature on the process of integration and European politics in comparative perspective.
● how to analyse the attitudes, behaviour and values of key actors in the process of European integration.
● the relationship between the design of the European political system and the political results they produce.
Instrumental competences (to know how to):
● think critically.
● analyse and synthesise.
● organise and plan.
● decision making.
● work alone.
3. Contents
The course is centred on the political and institutional design of the European political system, the role of the different actors and institutions in EU policy decision making, the phases in the political process, the distribution of institutional power within this process, the democratic and political legitimacy of the process of integration, the institutions and political actors.
Topic 1 - Introduction: the EU political system
What does regional integration mean in general and the process of European integration in particular. Brief history of the process of EU integration. What is the EU? Theories that explain the process of EU integration.
Topic 2 - EU legislature
Theories of legislative organisation. The development of the EU's legislative system. The legislative system of the EU. Is the EU bicameral?
Topic 3 - EU ejecutive
Theories of ejective organisation. The commission government. Member states: ejective power, delegation and discretion. The European Parliament control over the executive. The politics of a dual ejective.
Topic 4 - EU judiciary
Theories on judicial organisation. The EU´s legal system and the European Court of Justice. Constitutionalisation of the EU. Explaining hte EU´s judicial policy.
Topic 5 - Public opinion and the process of integration
Theories on the social basis of politics. Support for the process of European integration. Variables that explain support for integration. The democratic deficit debate.
Tema 6 - The political process in the EU
Theories on the organisation of political processes. The phases in the political process of the EU and the power or ability to influence of the different actors (formal and informal). The outcomes of the political process.
4. Assessment
Exam
50% of the final mark.
Seminars
The work carried out in seminars will account for 50% of the final mark.
5. Bibliography and other resources
5.1. Basic bibliography
Hix, Simon. 2005 (2011). The Political System of the European Union. Palgrave.
Wallace, Helen, Mark Pollack, and Alasdair Young (2010). Policy-Making in the European Union. Oxford University Press.
Rosamund, Ben (2000). Theories of European Integration. Palgrave.
Versluig, E., M. Van Keulen and P. Stephenson (2011), Analyzing the EU Policy Process. Palgrave
Curtin, D. (2009). Executive Power in the EU: Law, Practice and Constitutionalism. Oxford Unversity Press.
Bartolini, S. (2007). Reestructuring Europe: Centre Formation, System Building and Political Structuring Between the National State and the EU. Oxford University Press.
5.2. Other resources
- Course pack 1: compulsory reading (theory)
- Course pack 2: optional reading (theory)
- Webpage Prelex: http://ec.europa.eu/prelex/rech_simple.cfm?CL=es
- DEU data set
- Readings for seminars
6. Methodology
This combines lectures with seminars.
Lectures will cover the following: main concepts of each topic, the theoretical development of these, their empirical and analytical application, some of the critical and normative aspects of each of the topics of the course.
In seminars the emphasis will be in student initiative. Students will be required to carry out different types of activities: problem solving, presentations to the rest of the group, simulation of decision making processes, discussion of papers and or writing short essays.
7. Programme of activities
|
week |
Se |
Type |
Session content |
Student´s work during the week |
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|
Learning activity |
Class hrs. |
Outside class hrs. |
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|
In class |
Outside class |
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|
Iª |
1 |
L |
Introduction to the course - Presentation and explanation of the seminar activities. topic 1: introduction to the political system of the EU. |
Learning key concepts and theories |
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. |
2 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
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|
IIª |
2 |
L |
Topic 2: legislative system of the EU, is the EU bicameral? |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
1 |
S |
|
Course exercises |
2 |
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|
IIIª |
3 |
L |
Topic 3: The EU executive. The politics of a dual executive. |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
2 |
S |
|
|
|
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|
IVª |
4 |
L |
Topic 4: EU judicial system. The constitutionalisation of the EU. Implementing EU law in member state systems. |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
3 |
S |
|
Course exercises |
2 |
|||
|
Vª |
5 |
L |
Topic 5: Public opinion and the process of EU integration, does the democratic deficit exist? |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
4 |
S |
|
|
|
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|
VIª |
6 |
L |
Topic 5: Democratic Déficit and Legitimacy of the European Political System |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
5 |
S |
|
|
|
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|
VIIª |
7 |
L |
Topic 6: the organisation of the EU political process and the electoral results it produces. |
|
Reading compulsory bibliography and recommended one. Seminar preparation |
2 |
10 |
|
6 |
S |
|
Course exercises |
2 |
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Hours of dedication: Subtotal |
20 |
65 |
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XIª XIIª |
Hours of dedications for preparation of final assessment |
15 |
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TOTAL HOURS |
100 |
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