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This module critically explores the European Union (EU) and its main political processes: integration, disintegration (Brexit), Euroscepticism, institutional set-up, and key policy areas (Single Market, Economic and Monetary Union, labour and welfare policies, migration policies).

The course emphasises the importance of the normative idea of Europe (‘who/what is European?’, ‘where does Europe begin and end?’), power relations and dynamics between member states, as well as the complex political, economic, and social interdependencies that (re)shape the EU.

The activities in the course will promote individual study and research, as well as group discussion and debate. The seminar activities for this module are versatile and involve lively (and civil) debates, group work, and hands-on, role-playing activities designed to promote a critical and informed understanding of EU politics. Students will benefit from a wide range of seminar materials: not just academic articles and book chapters, but also news commentaries, political campaign documents, documentaries, policy briefs, case law, photo essays, podcasts.

The module is designed to equip students with an in-depth empirical and conceptual understanding, as well as analytical skills necessary to grasp, discuss and critically evaluate how the EU and its main political processes operate.
Students will gain specific knowledge about the history and structure of the EU and develop a mode of thinking that will allow them to engage critically with wider contemporary political issues including democracy, populism, post-colonialism, global governance, as well as austerity and the global economy in crisis. The course will be of interest to students from different academic backgrounds, with various academic interests and career aspirations. The course will enable students to:
• Understand the historical, political and economic context of the EU, as well as its contemporary significance;
• understand the institutional structure of the EU and its impact on policymaking;
• contribute to normative debates about supranational governance;
• critically assess empirical evidence and its significance for argumentation;
• develop the analytical and research skills necessary to interpret and evaluate the successes (and failures) of monetary, fiscal, labour, welfare, and migration policies.