The EU as a Global Power
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| POLI3120 | Politics and International Relations | 3 | 20 | Autumn UK |
- Code
- POLI3120
- School
- Politics and International Relations
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 20
- Semesters
- Autumn UK
Summary
Against the backdrop of increasingly tense EU-US relations, Brexit, and rising nationalism in Europe, this course analyses the European Union's international role. It first introduces concepts and decision-making processes related to EU foreign policy both, by Member States and EU institutions. In particular, we analyse the processes within the European Communities, and the CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policies) / CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policies) frameworks. The course then critically assesses security and economic policies towards states and regions in Africa, the Middle East, South America and Asia. Themes to explain the nature of contemporary EU foreign policies include: European integration, intergovernmentalism and supranationalism, neoliberalism and ethical foreign policy, development aid (including for health and education) and diplomacy, post-colonialism, as well as military and civilian means for conflict-management.
Target Students
Available to Final Year UG students in the School of Politics and International Relations on single and joint honours plans. Also available to Final Year UG students on the Philosophy, Politics and Economics plan, and incoming exchange students based in the School of Politics and International Relations.
Classes
This module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars.
Assessment
- 50% Coursework 1: 2,000 word portfolio
- 50% Coursework 2: 2,000 word essay
Assessed by end of autumn semester
Educational Aims
Students will acquire knowledge and understanding of the way European institutions work through recorded lectures and critically discuss the logic and limits of political reform in Europe in their first coursework, the portfolio assignment. Students will discuss decision-making processes related to EU foreign policy, both by Member States and EU institutions, in online discussions, and be encouraged to show a critical awareness of CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policies) / CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policies) frameworks in their second coursework, the essay assignment. Students will be empowered to select, sift through and synthesize online information in order to develop a convincing and compelling argument in both coursework assignments.Learning Outcomes
a) Knowledge and understanding:
By the end of the module, in their assessed work, students should be able to:
• comprehend and evaluate different research approaches to Europe's international role.
b) Intellectual and transferrable skills:
By the end of the module and in their portfolio assignment, students should be able to:
• critically assess the logic and limits of Europe's global power.
• They develop a critical awareness of CFSP (Common Foreign and Security Policies) / CSDP (Common Security and Defence Policies) frameworks in their second coursework, the essay assignment.
• Furthermore, students should be able to develop a sustained and reasoned argument, whilst evaluating and articulating weakness in the arguments of others.
c) Digital capabilities:
By the end of the module, in their assessed work, students should be able to:
• select, sift and synthesize through online information. They will be able to gather, organise and deploy evidence, data and information; and will become familiar with appropriate means of identifying, finding, retrieving, sorting and exchanging information.