Politics

Political Systems and Issues: The European Union

Module code: L2038
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar
Assessment modes: Essay

The European Union as a project has changed rapidly, sometimes significantly, over its lifetime. Understanding how the EU works is an urgent task for political scientists. However, due to the EU's uniqueness, it is difficult to effectively study and fully understand it.

On this module, you’ll examine the EU as a system of governance. After a historical and theoretical overview, you’ll explore:

• the nature of executive, legislative and judicial politics
• the processes of interest representation and economic governance
• the nature of democracy and identity within the EU.

The module concludes with an examination of the crises which the European project has faced. You’ll research new and critical perspectives to help re-examine the past, present and possible futures of European integration.

Module learning outcomes

• Analyse the structure and operation of an aspect of the EU as a political system
• Locate and evaluate academic literature related to a particular topic in EU politics
• Identify and research a key issue or question relating to EU politics
• Experience of conceiving and producing a substantial work of analysis and argument, presented in accordance with professional scholarly standards.