Understanding the EU’s Role in the World

This short course will provide students with the ability to critically assess the EU’s role in the world. It will first discuss the sources and mechanisms of EU influence in the world. It will then analyse the institutions and rules of the EU’s foreign policy-making process, and the challenge of achieving unity within the EU. Finally, it will use the example of the EU’s policy towards Russia and Ukraine to illustrate the EU’s strengths and weaknesses as a global power.

Some of the questions that we will address in this course include: Is the EU a global power? How is EU foreign policy made? What are the challenges posed by the ‘logic of diversity’ within the EU? How did the EU respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what does this tell us about the EU’s role in the world?

Course leader

Karen E. Smith (London School of Economics)

Target group

The IBEI Summer School in Global Politics, Development and Security is a program designed for graduate students and all those who have an interest in advanced knowledge of international security, international development and global politics issues. The objective is to offer different short courses on significant topics, taught by scholars and experts of international prestige. The School will enable participants to broadly discuss current developments in world politics in the light of core social-science and IR theories and perspectives. The format will be online or hybrid (face to face and online). Optionally, students may ask for an assessment in order to be able to obtain ECTS credits, provided they are recognized by their university.

Course aim

This short course will provide students with the ability to critically assess the EU’s role in the world. It will first discuss the sources and mechanisms of EU influence in the world. It will then analyse the institutions and rules of the EU’s foreign policy-making process, and the challenge of achieving unity within the EU. Finally, it will use the example of the EU’s policy towards Russia and Ukraine to illustrate the EU’s strengths and weaknesses as a global power.

Some of the questions that we will address in this course include: Is the EU a global power? How is EU foreign policy made? What are the challenges posed by the ‘logic of diversity’ within the EU? How did the EU respond to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and what does this tell us about the EU’s role in the world?

Credits info

1 EC
Participants have the opportunity to gain ECTS credits if they are recognized by their universities.

6 hour course: 1 credit = Complete the course + daily assignments / project work

Fee info

EUR 195: Fee for Students. Discount pricing for participants taking more than one course (2 courses 20%; 3 courses 30%; 4 courses 40%).
Early bird discount: an additional 10% discount for full payments received on or before 9 June 2022
EUR 280: Fee for Professionals/Researchers. Discount pricing for participants taking more than one course (2 courses 20%; 3 courses 30%; 4 courses 40%).
Early bird discount: an additional 10% discount for full payments received on or before 9 June 2022

Scholarships

A number of scholarships to cover full or half course fees will be available. In addition to the application requirements, to apply for a scholarship, interested persons must send until 20th May 2022, a letter of interest, CV and a recommendation letter