History, Institutions and Policies of European Integration

Course contents

This course explores core features of the political system of the European Union and addresses amongst other topics:

•the history of European unification and integration, especially the development of the European Union since 1951
•core aspects of the cultural, socio-economic, legal and political dimensions of European integration
•theories of regional integration, in particular with regards to Europe
•institutions and Member States of the European Union
•decision- and policy-making in the European Union
•policies of the European Union, e.g. the Economic and Monetary Union
•future perspectives of the European Union

Course leader

Stefan Gänzle

Target group

Applicants must have a BA in a relevant field of study such as social sciences, economics and law, or an equivalent background consisting of 180 ECTS.

Course aim

Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to

•describe the motives behind the process of European integration
•describe and illustrate the functioning of European Union policies, the organisational set-up of EU institutions and their dynamic interplay with the Member States
•differentiate between different concepts and theories of European integration and to apply analytical tools to issues of European integration
•critically assess well-established approaches and dissenting arguments