2008/09 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED2328 Making the European Union

20 creditsClass Size: 97

Module manager: Dr Nick Robinson
Email: N.Robinson@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2008/09

This module is approved as an Elective

Module summary

Why has the EU developed the way it has? Is it moving towards a state? How likely is the EU to develop an army? How effective is it at fighting terrorism? Does it dominate national economic policy? Why does it seem to have such a limited social role? Should EU agricultural policy be abolished? Does the EU make a positive contribution in terms of the environment? The module answers such questions, introducing you to a number of the key controversies in the study of European Integration. In part one, it defines what we mean by integration and introduces competing explanations of why the EU has integrated in the way it has. It examines the milestones in the history of the EU, from the origins of the Union to the presently stalled Constitutional Convention, designed to look to the future of the European Union. In part two, it looks at how new policies have been formed in areas such as immigration, counter terrorism, monetary union, the environment, social policy, agriculture, defence and security and so forth. For further information see the School of Politics and International Studies website. If you cannot find the answer to your question then email N.Robinson@leeds.ac.uk

Objectives

On completion of this module, students should be able to:

1. Identify the main theories of European integration, their principal propositions and the ways in which they differ from one another;
2. Apply the main theories of European integration to an analysis of the process of Treaty formation in the European Union;
3. Use the main theories of European integration to analyse the development of specific policies of the European Union;
4. Demonstrate achievement of objective 1 through a piece of assessment (of 1500 words) that requires students to write a review of a key text in theoretical literature on European integration;
5. Demonstrate achievement of objectives 2 and 3 through an assessed essay (of 3000 words) that requires students to write a case study in Treaty or policy formation.

Syllabus

This module introduces students to controversies in the study of European Integration. It defines integration and introduces competing explanations of why it occurs. It examines milestones in the formation of the modern European Union from the original Treaty of Rome (1957), through the Maastricht Treaty (1992) to the Convention that is currently looking at the future of the European Union. It looks at how new policies have been formed in the areas of Monetary Union, the Common Foreign and Security Policy and Justice and Home Affairs.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	10	1.00	10.00
Seminar	10	1.00	10.00
Private study hours			180.00
Total Contact hours			20.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

180 hours.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Article review 10 March 2008, essay first day of the exam period

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Assignment	2,000 word book review	50.00
Essay	4,000 word essay	50.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/03/2009

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