EU Studies Integrative Seminar

Course Information

Program(s):

Freiburg - European Union

Discipline(s):

Political Science

Terms offered:

Fall, Spring

Credits:

Language of instruction:

English

Prerequisites:

None

Description:

The Integrative Seminar is mandatory for all European Union Program students. It provides students with an understanding of the origin, development and workings of the European Union, and how these are related to political developments at both the national and international levels. It further constitutes the context in which preparatory sessions preceding each field trip are held and post field trip analysis is conducted. The most important function of the integrative seminar is to serve as a capstone for discussion and analysis of coursework and field study insights, as well as a launching pad for the Model EU simulation.

Attendance policy:

All IES courses require attendance and participation. Attendance is mandatory per IES policy. Any unexcused absence will incur a penalty of 3% on your final grade. Any student who has more than three (3) unexcused absences will receive an “F” as the final grade in the course. Absences due to sickness, religious observances, and family emergencies may be excusable at the discretion of the Center Director.

In the case of an excused absence, it is the student’s responsibility to inform the Academic Dean of the absence with an Official Excused Absence Form, as well as any other relevant documentation (e.g. a doctor’s note), and to keep a record thereof. This form must be turned in as soon as possible before the class, in the case of a planned absence, or immediately after the class, in the case of an unplanned absence, in order for the absence to be considered excused. It is also the student’s responsibility to inform the professor of the missed class. Students can collect and submit the Official Excused Absence Form from the office of the Academic Dean.

TESTS MISSED DURING UNEXCUSED ABSENCES CANNOT BE MADE UP!

The use of laptop computers during class is not permitted. Cell phones are to be switched off. Updated information on your course and readings can be found on the Moodle platform at https://eu.elearning.iesabroad.org/.

Learning outcomes:

Students will complete the course having developed a comprehensive understanding of the political and economic processes over the wide range of the 27 EU countries. They will be able to produce academic analyses of the achievements, the short-comings, and the potential of the European project. In addition, they will then have developed comparative political-cultural competencies, allowing them a fresh perspective on their domestic political system.

They will be able to exhibit an in-depth understanding of complexities of the decision-making and policy making processes in the EU, and evaluate the effects of these processes on individual countries. In addition, they will be able to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the interrelation between the EU institutions and the political structures of the EU member states, including such concepts as subsidiarity and Europeanization. Finally, students will learn to use their insights into the multiplicity of power relations between the various member states.

The above objectives will be achieved by classroom lectures and discussions, independent study and research supplemented by first-hand experience on the field trips (including meetings with EU officials, specialized academics, and lobbyists working on or with the EU), and by active participation in the simulation of a European summit which also presents students with the opportunity to develop negotiating skills and articulate a given position.

Method of presentation:

Classes will be a mixture of brief lectures, group work and moderated discussions. Students are expected to discuss the readings for each class with their fellow students and their professor and to participate actively in group activities. Participation is part of the students grade, therefore it is expected that all students do contribute during classes, in Moodle projects and assignments, field trip lectures and during the Model EU. There will be online/class discussions or assignments for most of the readings as well as other activities on Moodle. The field-study trips to the EU and related European institutions, to Berlin and Prague, and an elective trip, as well as the Model EU are core components of the course. Insights gained on the trips will flow into class work and the preparation of the Model EU. At the Model EU, each student will be a member of a country delegation, the Council Presidency, Secretariat or a journalist.

Required work and form of assessment:

Mandatory attendance, classroom/field trip participation and reading and written assignments (25%), field trip reflections (20%), two exams (30%), Model EU preparation & participation (25%)

Grade Evaulation:

Two exams (10% each) - 20%
EU poll project - 10%
Two Field Trip Assignments (10% each) - 20%
Participation in class and on Moodle (15% / 10%) - 25%
Model EU Policy Statement - 5%
Model EU Draft Proposal (collaborative assignment) - 10%
Model EU Participation - 10%

There will be two exams on contents covered in the seminars and/or the readings and a EU POLL PROJECT. In addition, there are two written assignments for the Model EU (the policy statement including a works cited sheet, and participation in delegation draft proposals). Moreover, students will have to keep a field trip journal for each trip and write a fictional letter from either Prague or Berlin and produce a video blog on the trip to Brussels and Paris. These assignments place the trips in the context of the course and are described in more detail later in this syllabus.Seminar discussions are based upon the compulsory readings, written assignments and the teaching introductions given for each session. The participation grade is not a grade that reflects attendance. It solely reflects a student’s activity in the class room, on Moodle and the student’s homework as well as group projects. 30% of the participation grade is given after session 14, the reminding participation grade is given after session 27. Participation grades are commented and students are encouraged to discuss these with the instructor. The inappropriate use of mobile devices (smart devices) during class carry a penalty of up to 30 points on the overall participation grade. The instructor may indicate the use of mobile devices during class for special purposes.

content:

Session	Content	Readings
Intensive Introductory Week
I. HISTORY OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
Session 1	The Course, the World, Europe and the European Union: Why a European Union? – What is the European Union? – Who can join? – How is policy made? – The EU and its citizens
Session 2	Theories of European Integration: Theories of European Integration – Intergovernmentalism and supranationalism: Opposing or complementary theories? Theories or processes?	Bache/George/Bulmer, 3-20
Session 3	The History of the EU I: From War to Community, 1945 to 1958	Bache/George/Bulmer 79-123
Session 4	The History of the EU II: Building European Community, 1958 to 1986: From EEC to SEA “The Jew”: A Living History Walk through Freiburg (DATE TBA)	Bache/George/Bulmer 124 - 158
Session 5	The History of the EU III: Building European Union, 1992 to 2001: From Maastricht to Nice	Bache/George/Bulmer 159 - 191
Session 6	The History of the EU IV: The EU between major achievements, stalled reforms and international crises – David Cameron and the End of Europe	Bache/George/Bulmer, 192-222
Session 7	The EU and its member states – Examples from Germany: The role of the member states in the EU – Germany in the EU and in the news
Session 8	The Model EU and Exam Review: Briefing on the Model EU simulation – Review for first exam	Model EU Information Package (moodle), Study guide
Session 9	Exam 1
Session 10	Field Study Preparation & The EU and its member states – Examples from Czech Republic: Czech Republic in the EU and in the news APPLICATIONS FOR MODEL EU POSITIONS DUE THE DAY AFTER CLASS
Field Study Trip I (Berlin and Prague). Europe: From Division Towards Integration
Session 11	Field Trip I Reflection Assignment of Model EU positions
II.THE INSTITUTIONIONAL ARCHITECTURE OF THE EU: THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS AND THE DECISION MAKERS
Session 12	The EU Institutions 1: Institutional Architecture	Bache/George/Bulmer 223 - 254
Session 13	The EU Institutions 2: The European Commission CREATIVE WRITING ASSIGNMENT: FICTIONAL LETTER FROM BERLIN OR PRAGUE DUE EU POLL PROJECT QUESTION DUE (DATE TBA)	Bache/George/Bulmer 255 - 271
Session 14	The EU Institutions 3: The European Council and the Council of Ministers PRESIDENCY, SECRETARIAT AND JOURNALIST MEETING: HOW TO WRITE THE AGENDA? WHAT TO DO AS A JOURNALIST? (AFTER CLASS)	Bache/George/Bulmer 272 – 291
Session 15	The EU Institutions 4: The European Parliament	Bache/George/Bulmer, 292 - 313
Session 16	The EU Institutions 5: The European Court of Justice & Institutional Review EU POLL PROJECT POLLS DUE	Bache/George/Bulmer 314 -329
Field Study Trip II to the European Parliament (Strasbourg). The workings and functions of the EP.
Session 17	Field Trip Preparation EU poll project analysis due Agenda and Country profiles DUE
Field Study Trip III: European Institutions in Western Europe
Session 18	Field Trip Reflection
III. POLICY MAKING AND POLICY FIELDS OF THE EU: SELECTED EXAMPLES AND CONTEXTUALIZATION WITH THE MODEL EU
Session 19	Policies and Policy Making in the European Union: The European Policy Agenda – The EU Policy Process – Minor Policy Areas – Major Policy Areas Field trip video blog due	Bache/George/Bulmer, 347 - 369
Session 20	Model EU Policy Issue I/II: Topics defined by Model EU Presidency: Historical background – Topic overview - Specific Model EU Agenda items	Bache/George/Bulmer, pages tba
Session 21	Model EU Policy Issue I/II: Discussion of various country positions: Each country briefly presents its opinion – Different approaches – Possible Coalitions	Policy Statements
Session 22	Model EU Policy Issue III/IV: Topics defined by Model EU Presidency: Historical background – Overview of the area – Specific Model EU Agenda items	Bache/George/Bulmer, pages tba
Session 23	Model EU Policy Issue I/II: Discussion of various country positions: Each country briefly presents its opinion – Different approaches – Possible Coalitions	Policy Statements
Session 24	Model EU Focus: Joint proposals – Negotiations strategies – Using the media
Session 25	Exam 2
Session 26	Field Trip Briefing: EU Member States: The preparation session is split up according to field trip, not classes Model EU: policy statement due FOR JOINT PROPOSALS, WORKING GROUPS NEED TO SEND IN TOPICS AND LIST OF GROUP MEMBERS TO THE SECRETARIAT
Field Study Trip IV: Respective Trip Option
Session 27	Field Trip IV Reflection DELEGATION AGENDA PROPOSALS NEED TO BE FINALIZED PRESIDENCY AND SECRETARIAT MEETING: PROCEDURE
Session 28	Model EU Opening: Tour de Table – Final Setting of the Agenda – Coalition Caucuses
IV.CAPSTONE: MODEL EUROPEAN UNION SUMMIT
Session 29	Mock Debate on current topic in preparation for Model EU Heads of Government / State have to prepare a short opening statement.
Session 30	Model EU
Session 31	Model EU
Session 32	Reflection on the term and the Model EU: The EU as a multinational composite product which is more than the sum of its parts: European Union – more than a least common denominator / European Union – more than just its member states combined

Required readings:

Bache, Ian, Stephen George and Simon Bulmer (eds.). Politics in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2011³.

In addition, there will occasionally be other reading assignments and handouts from the instructor particularly on the Model EU topics. These will be posted on moodle.

Recommended readings:

Artis, Michael (ed.). The Economics of the European Union: Policy and Analysis. Oxford: University Press, 2007.
Åslund, Anders (ed.). Europe after Enlargement. Cambridge: University Press, 2007.
Bain, Jessica (ed.). European Union Identity: Perceptions from Asia and Europe. Baden-Baden: Nomos, 2007.
Baldwin, Richard and Charles Wyplosz. The Economics of the European Union. Maidenhead: McGraw Hill, 2004.
Bulmer, Simon and Christian Lequesne. The Member States of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005.
Casarini, Nicola (ed.). European Foreign Policy in an Evolving International System: The Road Towards Convergence. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007.
Dinan, Desmond. Europe Recast. A History of the European Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2004.
Dinan, Desmond. Ever Closer Union. An Introduction to European Integration. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005³.
El-Agraa, Ali M. (ed.). The European Union: Economics and Policies. Harlow: Prentice Hall, 20078.
Fraser, Cameron. An Introduction to European Foreign Policy. London: Routledge, 2007.
Giddens, Anthony. Europe in the Global Age. Cambridge: Polity Press, 2007.
Hill, Christopher and Michael Smith. International Relations and the European Union. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2005.
Hix, Simon. The Political System of the European Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2005².
Howorth, Jolyon. Security and Defence Policy in the European Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007.
Judt, Tony. Postwar. A History of Europe Since 1945. New York: Penguin, 2005.
Kohler-Koch, Beate (ed.). Debating the Democratic Legitimacy of the European Union. Lanman: Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.
McCormick, John. The European Superpower. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007.
Molle, Willem. European Cohesion Policy. London: Routledge, 2007.
Neal, Larry. The Economics of Europe and the European Union. Cambridge: University Press, 2007.
Nugent, Neil. The Government and Politics of the European Union. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 20066.
Peterson, John and Michael Shackleton (eds.). The Institutions of the European Union. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2006².
Rifkin, Jeremy. The European Dream. How Europe’s Vision of the Future Is Quietly Eclipsing the American Dream. New York: Jeremy Tarcher, 2004.
Telò, Mario. Europe: A Civilian Power? European Union, Global Governance, World Order. Basingstoke: Palgrave MacMillan, 2007.
Wallace, Helen, William Wallace and Mark Pollack (eds.). Policy Making in the European Union. Oxford: Oxford UP, 20055.
Weidenfeld, Werner. Understanding the European Constitution. Gütersloh: Bertelsmann Foundation, 2007.

Other Resources:

LINKS: Official EU website: www.europa.eu Euractiv: http://euractiv.com European Policy Center: www.epc.be EU Observer. http://www.euobserver.com Europaeum. http://www.europaeum.org/ European Affairs. http://www.europeanaffairs.org/ In order to keep up to date on current events, especially those involving European affairs, it is recommended that you regularly read the Economist, a British weekly. Its name is misleading, as the paper caters not only to economists and the business community, but also to a wider educated public. It also always contains a section on “Europe”. In addition, listen to the BBC worldwide services and/or watch BBC television. In order to get a multidimensional view on European policy issues, try to diversify your sources.

Notes:

About the course structure: The course is divided into four main parts:

The first is an intensive introductory phase during which you will be learning about the history of the EU and look at two member states, Germany and Czech Republic, in more detail. You will visit these two member states on the first field trip. There will be a test about the material covered at the end of this phase.
The second part begins with the twice weekly regular classes and is devoted to the institutional architecture of the EU as well as the four major EU decision-making institutions: the Council of the European Union, the European Commission, the European Parliament and the European Court of Justice. During this phase, we will conduct an EU Poll project.
The third section of the course provides an introduction to EU policy fields. It covers all policy fields discussed during the Model EU. First the background and historical development of these policies is discussed, before these are placed into context with current policies and politics in the EU. In addition to introducing the policy fields, students present their assigned country’s position on each field and discuss commonalities as well as differences between their various positions. Eventually, this section empowers students to find suitable partner delegations for joint proposals.
Moreover, there are six classes integrated into the course which are devoted to the preparation of and reflection on the field-study trips. These classes are designed to ensure that students derive as much information and inspiration from the field-study lectures as possible and that they are able to connect their insights with the academic work, both classes and Model EU, in Freiburg.

THE MODEL EU The Model EU is a simulation of a summit meeting of the European Council (Heads of Government/State and Foreign Ministers). Students will take on different roles at this simulation representing countries or institutions in the negotiations on a pre-set agenda. Role Application The following roles are available: • Council President (responsible for running the council meeting and setting the agenda) • Secretariat (supporting the president in running the meeting and setting the agenda) • Delegates (Head of government / Foreign Minister representing an assigned member state) • Journalists (responsible for the creation of a wordpress site with interviews, background information, videos etc.) Students need to apply for one of the above stated positions. The application is handed in through Moodle and must state their motivation, qualification and expectations for the applied position(s) and/or country (please provide alternative choices). You can also apply in a more general manner, e.g. “I would like to represent a smaller country as Foreign Minister because …”. For the chair positions (Permanent President and High Representative) experience in similar simulations or student government will be helpful. Policy Statement and Agenda If you are representing a country at the Model-EU you will have to prepare a policy statement which presents the basic stances of your country delegation on the issues on the agenda. You will have to state the sources used to write your policy statement on a separate document. The Permanent President, the High Representative of CFSP and the members of the Council Secretariat (organizing committee) will draft the agenda instead. Policy Statements Except for a 1 page cover letter policy statements are written separately by each member of the delegation (Heads of Government/Foreign Ministers) on the topics on the respective agendas (each participant has to write 3-4 pages). However, the policy statements are handed in collectively as one document. Moreover, the delegation has to write an introductory note together. The statements should have one common format. Students are graded separately for their respective parts of the policy statement. There are various ways to write your policy statement. The essential aspect is that you have to provide your delegation’s basic stance on the issues at hand. Depending on your strategy and your interest in a given topic you can be more or less open about your positions and intentions. You might for example want to hint at possible compromises to show your conciliatory attitude. In contrast, you might find it advantages on another issue to take a strong bargaining position. Policy statements are written in “high style.” You are writing as the highest representatives of your country and these are official documents. This does not mean that you should write meaningless statements in inflated prose. The policy statements need to have substance as they are the basis for discussion at the summit meeting. Agenda The basic agenda topics are determined by the presidency early during the semester. This agenda will be narrowed down and focused by the Permanent President and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the Secretariat of the Council. The view of the various delegations will be taken into account as well. The agenda is released prior to the Institutions field trip and describes the issues to be discussed during the simulation in sufficient detail. (Commonly, the agenda has a length of 8 to 10 pages, including an introduction/invitation letter). Delegation Agenda Proposals Each country representative will have to work on at least two proposals for the Model EU summit. These proposals need to be on the topic outlined on the agenda published by the presidency and cannot introduce new items. In addition, these proposals are joint delegation proposals which means the proposals will be written in small groups. Therefore, students will have to identify potential allies and arrange group meetings. To facilitate group formation a forum will be created on Moodle. The council secretariat will help organize groups and will collect the agenda proposals to eventually put these together as one document for the summit meeting. You can join a group at any time. If the interests on certain proposals are clearly contrary, multiple groups should be formed. These should draft alternative proposals. If you are looking for allies you should post the topic and your general position on it on Moodle to invite others. Alternatively you can join a group that has already been formed in that manner. The groups should delegate a group leader. If a delegate wants to join a group belatedly to help edit the proposals they need to contact the group leader. Journalists: Journalists take up a unique position during the Model EU simulation since they do not play the role of a participant in the summit but the role of an observer. Journalists accompany the delegates and the presidency on their way to the summit meeting at the end of the semester by chronicling the developments by their choice of media. The task is threefold:

Provide country profiles
Provide critical commentaries on the agenda items
Evaluate the summit outcome

Journalists can choose from a choice of platforms such as typo3, wordpress, Drupal or other web content tools. Journalists are free in the choice of media. Written text as well as video or audio formats are equally acceptable. Outcome: At the end of the Model EU you will have to present your Presidency Conclusions. This is a document consisting of all decisions you were able to reach during the summit meeting. These will be based on the joint proposals prepared by the delegations prior to the summit, but will necessarily reflect the national and ideological positions brought to the bargaining table. Moreover, some proposals may have been successfully introduced or broadened during the summit. Yet others may have failed to receive sufficient backing from all member states and there for will not make it into the Presidency Conclusions. Please note: The Model EU is prepared in class both in terms of procedure and in terms of content. However, it is imperative that all students prepare for the simulation independently. All participants need to be well versed in the Rules of Procedure as well as the topics being discussed in their council setting. Moreover, all students need to have a clear concept of their role (e.g. the position of their government on the topics) to be able to play this role effectively, adjust to unforeseen developments and to generally stay in character. Faculty will be present at the summit meeting. However, they will interfere as little as possible with the proceedings. The effective running of the simulation is the responsibility of the Presidency / High Representative and all other participants.

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