EGO424 Europe and Global Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2016
Extent and Intensity
1/1. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Hubert Smekal, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Tue 15:15–16:45 U42
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At the end of the course, students should acquire a solid command of various current issues and debates relevant to the role of the EU and Europe as a whole in world politics. Students will understand the difficulties the EU is facing in its search of more coherent foreign policy. Students will also be able to analyse particular problems (e.g. human rights, common security and defence, and anti-missile defence) whose solutions imply more unified European action.
Syllabus
  • Introductory session
  • European Union in World Politics
  • The European Union as a Normative Actor?
  • Europe and the United States: A Different Perception of Security Threats or Differing Preferences for the Approaches towards their Resolution?
  • Europe, USA, Strategic Cultures, and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD)
  • Europe and Missile Defense – The Current Debate, Lessons Learned
  • Europe and International Human Rights
  • Promotion of Democracy and Human Rights in EU Foreign Policy
  • Neighborhood Policy and Development Aid in EU Foreign Policy
  • EU as a Global Security Actor I.
  • EU as a Global Security Actor II.
  • Reading week
  • Course Wrap-up
Literature
  • BALE, Tim. European politics : a comparative introduction. 2nd ed. Rev. and updated. New York, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, xvi, 404. ISBN 9780230573789. URL info
  • Europe, America, Bush : transatlantic relations in the twenty-first century. Edited by John Peterson - Mark A. Pollack. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2003, xii, 158. ISBN 0415309433. info
  • European Union : power and policy-making. Edited by J. J. Richardson. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2001, xvi, 388. ISBN 041522165X. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures mixed together with seminars including class discussion. Position papers related to required readings are part of the workload and form a basis for the in-class discussion. Each lecture is accompanied by compulsory reading, the knowledge of which is necessary both for active participation in class discussion and for the written exam. Moreover, students are encouraged to acquire further relevant academic articles, chapters in books etc. when preparing their position papers.
Assessment methods
Requirements of the Course Contact lessons (lectures and seminars) 25 hours 1 ECTS Required readings (569 pages): 75 hours 3 ECTS Position papers: 25 hours 1 ECTS Preparation for written exam: 25 hours 1 ECTS Total workload: 150 hours 6 ECTS 1) Students are required to write short position papers (between 3000-3600 characters, i.e. max. 2 standard pages) based on required readings for every seminar – in total 10 position papers. Position papers should include a summary of the main points, a critique of the readings, and questions for discussion. Position papers must have three clearly identified sections: 1. Summary; 2. Critique; 3. Questions. Position papers that do not have this structure will be rejected. Position papers should be inserted into a proper Folder in “Student Papers” (according to the date of the seminar) in IS (Information System) no later than 1 p.m. of the day before the seminar for which the position paper is written. 2) Active participation in class discussions. 3) Students will have to pass a final in-class written exam consisting of six questions based on the required readings and discussions in class. Grading The final grade will be calculated as a composite evaluation of three parts: 1) 10 position papers (max. 4 points each, i.e. 10 x 4 points, total max. 40 points) 2) 10 seminars: activity in discussions (max. 2 points each, i.e. 10 x 2 points, total max. 20 points) 3) Final exam (5 questions x max. 8 points, total max. 40 points) Maximum: 100 points. Pass: 64 points (64 %). A 94 – 100 points B 86 – 93 points C 78 – 85 points D 71 – 77 points E 64 – 70 points F less than 64 points
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2016, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2016/EGO424