Europe in International Politics and Security

About

This course scrutinizes a number of key issues concerning Europe in international politics and security affairs. In so doing, the course links some basic conceptual thinking and historical background on Europe and its role in the world, with key contemporary challenges and current crises affecting Europe and the Europeans.
The course begins with a basic review of power and influence in international affairs. On that background, it investigates Russia’s war in Ukraine (as well as its preceding annexation of Crimea and support of the war in Donbas), along with EU-Russia relations and Europe’s attempts to deal with these challenges. The course then turns to questions of time and the overall development of Europe’s past and potential future role in the world in international affairs. In that context, it considers the rise of China as a political actor in global affairs, the seemingly evolving U.S.-China rivalry, and the implications and challenges for Europe’s international affairs. The course concludes with some reflections on Europe’s search for its role and place in twenty-first century world politics.
In terms of process, the course combines brief rounds of discussion and joint brainstorming with compact lectures or presentations by the course provider.
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

Ulrich Krotz (European University Institute)

Target group

The IBEI Summer School in Global Politics and Policy 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.
Optionally, students may ask for an assessment in order to be able to obtain ECTS credits, provided they are recognized by their university. The 2023 edition of the IBEI Summer School in Global Politics and Policy is taking place in face to face format.

Course aim

This course scrutinizes a number of key issues concerning Europe in international politics and security affairs. In so doing, the course links some basic conceptual thinking and historical background on Europe and its role in the world, with key contemporary challenges and current crises affecting Europe and the Europeans.
The course begins with a basic review of power and influence in international affairs. On that background, it investigates Russia’s war in Ukraine (as well as its preceding annexation of Crimea and support of the war in Donbas), along with EU-Russia relations and Europe’s attempts to deal with these challenges. The course then turns to questions of time and the overall development of Europe’s past and potential future role in the world in international affairs. In that context, it considers the rise of China as a political actor in global affairs, the seemingly evolving U.S.-China rivalry, and the implications and challenges for Europe’s international affairs. The course concludes with some reflections on Europe’s search for its role and place in twenty-first century world politics.
In terms of process, the course combines brief rounds of discussion and joint brainstorming with compact lectures or presentations by the course provider.
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?

Fee info