2017/18 Undergraduate Module Catalogue

PIED2301 Politics and Policy in the EU

20 creditsClass Size: 120

Module manager: Dr. Dannreuther
Email: ipicd@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Module replaces

PIED 2305PIED 2328

This module is approved as a discovery module

Module summary

The media in the UK often portray the European Union (EU) as a huge super state forcing through legislation against the will of national governments. National governments often claim that "Brussels made me do it". This module explores the truth behind these and many other Euromyths by examining how the EU actually works, the roles of the various institution.

Objectives

By the end of this module students will:

Understand the significance of milestones in the history of the EU, from the origins of the Union to the Lisbon Treaty, designed to look to the future of the European Union;

Have examined how policies have been formed in a variety of areas.

Explore the future of the EU project by drawing on recent critical literature on European integration;

Throughout the course students will be encouraged to integrate these ideas with the full range of sources available on the EU.

The course aims to improve skills in analysis, presentation, argument and research both in the library and especially through the internet.

Be able to use empirical information (for example from the EU, news media, national governments and other associated websites) to draft a report on a practical policy related topic. Where possible the topic will be defined in conjunction with policy practitioners.

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

- identify the main theories of European integration, their principal propositions and the ways in which they differ from one another.

- apply the main theories of European integration to an analysis of the process of Treaty formation in the European Union.

- outline the main roles of the various institutions and how these institutions interact with each other in the policy process;

- how to use a range of conceptual tools to make sense of and discuss the wide range of material available on the EU.

Syllabus

Syllabus

Course introduction and outline
History of the EU
How the EU works - the supranational system
How the EU works - the intergovernmental system
Theories of European Integration (IR, CP and “critical IPE”)
The Policy Process - agenda setting, representation and legislation
The Policy Process - implementation, law and Europeanisation
Competition policy and the creation of a conditional community
EMU and the division of Europe
CONCLUSION: The European social question

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	12	1.00	12.00
Seminar	11	1.00	11.00
Independent online learning hours			11.00
Private study hours			166.00
Total Contact hours			23.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			200.00

Private study

Students are taught to read in relation to research questions. These are introduced in the lectures through a review of the main arguments and literature and provide guidance to the reading for the week. The same are posted on the VLE site but this time link to web links on EUROPA to provide data appropriate for answering the same questions.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored through their performance in seminars and in their engagement with the VLE resources (which shows their engagement with the various weblinks).
As formative feedback students are invited to submit to essay plans, and or book review or report plans to discuss with the tutor.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	1 x 2,000 Word Essay - end of semester	70.00
Literature Review	1x1,000 literature review-mid semester	30.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Option of 1,500 word literature review OR a 1,500 report at mid semester, either worth 30% of formal assessment.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 09/05/2017

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