EGO432 What’s new in the EU I.

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
PhDr. Zdeněk Sychra, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. Vratislav Havlík, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Mon 26. 2. 15:15–16:45 U32, Mon 12. 3. 15:15–16:45 U32, Mon 26. 3. 15:15–16:45 U32, Mon 9. 4. 15:15–16:45 U32, Mon 23. 4. 15:15–16:45 U32, Mon 14. 5. 15:15–16:45 U32
Prerequisites
None.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 12 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/12, only registered: 0/12
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The course discusses new developments in the EU and runs every semester. It is based on class discussions and presentations of various positions present in the debates. The objectives of the course are threefold:
1) Discuss topical events in the EU,
2) Improve argumentation skills in the issues of interest,
3) Improve presentation skills.
Learning outcomes
Present arguments on a given topic.
Effectively react to counterarguments and defend one's position on a given topic.
Syllabus
  • Course outline:
  • Seven compulsory seminars per semester (once in two weeks), each of 60 to 90 minutes (total 12 contact hours). See below the topics tentatively covered. Class Schedule – Topics From the following broader issues (see below), more specific problems will be specified:
  • 1) EU as an international actor
  • 2) Germany in European politics
  • 3) Democratic backsliding in CCE
  • 4) Selected EU law issue
  • 5) Public opinion in the EU
  • 6) Reforming the eurozone
Literature
    required literature
  • Clawson, R. and Z. Oxley. Public Opinion: Democratic Ideals and Democratic Practice 2nd edition, CQ Press, 2013, 69-72; 85 - 96
    not specified
  • Assigned readings for each seminar.
Teaching methods
Reading the required literature. Discussion on the topic of the day.
Assessment methods
The course shall serve as a platform for discussing the developments in the EU and its member states. The class meets biweekly to debate important issues in a structured way. The whole class consists of several groups which have the following tasks: (1) providing background information about the issue at question, (2) providing arguments for a thesis, (3) providing arguments against a thesis, (4) presenting three EU related news.
Before every seminar, the lecturer responsible for given issue presents a (provocative) thesis/question which shall serve as a basis for the debate.
Requirements of the Course and the Evaluation
1) Compulsory participation at the seminars 2) Active participation at the group projects The evaluation is based on the binary scale: pass – fail. For successful passing of the course it is mandatory to participate at all the seminars and all the group projects.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
  • Enrolment Statistics (recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2018/EGO432