Making sense of European Union politics

Aims

This course aims to: 

• provide the historical context in which European integration developed from the end of the Second World War onwards
   
• set out the main institutions and actors involved in European Union politics, and explain how these institutions and other actors interact with one another in the European Union’s policy-making process
   
• outline a range of contemporary political challenges facing the European Union and prompt discussion and critical reflection on the impact of these challenges for the future of 
  European integration

Content

This course introduces you to the European Union and its political operation. The European Union is unique in global politics, representing an ambitious attempt to bind nation states together through economic and political integration, with those states pooling their sovereignty in supranational institutions. Since the inception of the European Coal and Steel Community in 1952, this integration project has arguably delivered its stated aims to secure peace and economic prosperity among those participating. However the European Union has evolved significantly since its inception, increasing both its membership and policy scope. As the remit of the European Union has increased, so too have the challenges it faces. The contemporary European Union is often said to be in a state of crisis as it responds to an ever-increasing number of internal and 
external challenges.

The course is split into three broad themes designed to facilitate your awareness of contemporary European Union politics:

The historical context in which European integration developed. What is now known as the European Union did not develop in isolation but was heavily influenced by trends in global politics following the Second World War. While the desire to secure peace and economic prosperity in Western Europe were stated aims, this was against the wider backdrop of the emerging Cold War and shifts in global politics. Nevertheless, individual political elites played a crucial role in promoting European integration.

The European Union’s institutional structure and policy-making process. The European Union’s supranational institutions (such as the European Commission and the European Parliament) make it unique among international organisations, but the institutional structure and the policy-making process set out in the European treaties represents a careful balance between enabling supranational co-operation, maintaining intergovernmental control and ensuring citizen input.

Challenges to European integration. Since the onset of the financial crisis in 2008, the European Union has increasingly found itself responding to multiple crises, including increased citizen dissatisfaction, Brexit and conflict in Ukraine. While the European Union has been able to successfully respond to many of these internal and external challenges, its responses have often reshaped the direction of European integration.

Presentation of the course 

This course will be taught over five sessions. Each session will consist of a presentation designed to introduce you to the topic, followed by group discussion to explore the topic in further detail and give you an opportunity to ask questions and develop your understanding.

Course sessions

1. The development of European integration
   This session focuses on the historical context at the end of the Second World War and the start of the Cold War, and the extent to which a range of economic and geopolitical factors, together with the initiative of individual political elites, influenced the development of what is now the European Union. The session will explore how relevant these factors are for the European Union today.
    
2. The European Union’s institutional structure
   This session explores the European Union’s institutional structure, including the main institutions of the European Commission, the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council of the European Union. Particular attention is paid to whose interests these institutions represent and how well these interests are balanced.
    
3. Policy-making and balancing interests in the European Union
   This session focuses on how policy and decisions are made in the European Union and explores how a range of other actors and interests also get involved and attempt to influence European politics. The session also appraises opportunities for citizen input and the European Union’s democratic credentials.
    
4. The European Union in crisis
   This session introduces the notion of crisis in European Union politics. Starting with the 2008 financial crisis, a range of external and internal crises are surveyed, including fluctuating citizen support for the European Union, Brexit and the war in Ukraine. The session asks whether the European Union is now stuck in a semi-permanent state of crisis management.
    
5. The future of the European Union and European integration
   This session explores the future of the European Union and European integration more broadly. The session will evaluate the European Union’s response to the range of crises it has faced and the impact these responses have had on the trajectory of European integration. The session also explores the future prospects of European integration and what choices the European Union may be faced with.

Learning outcomes

You are expected to gain from this series of classroom sessions a greater understanding of the subject and of the core issues and arguments central to the course. 

The learning outcomes for this course are:

• to recognise the economic and geopolitical factors which influenced the development of European integration from the end of the Second World War onwards
   
• to describe the European Union’s institutional structure and policy-making process and evaluate the role of various actors within this structure
   
• to evaluate the contemporary challenges facing the European Union and critically assess the impact of these challenges on the future of European integration

Required reading

There are no compulsory readings for this course. However, you may find the below recommended reading list of interest to supplement your course.

Typical week: Monday to Friday 

Courses run from Monday to Friday. For each week of study, you select a morning (Am) course and an afternoon (Pm) course. The maximum class size is 25 students.   

Courses are complemented by a series of daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to your learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events. 

Evaluation and Academic Credit  

If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.  

Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £75 per essay. 

For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit. 

Certificate of attendance 

A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically after the programme.