ESF:BPV_EPSI Political and social identity - Course Information

BPV_EPSI Economic Political and social identity in the European Union

Extent and Intensity

2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).

Teacher(s)

John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer)

Guaranteed by

doc. JUDr. Ivan Malý, CSc.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Mgr. Kateřina Kociánová

Timetable

Fri 16. 4. 11:05–14:30 P101, Tue 20. 4. 16:20–19:35 P103, Fri 23. 4. 11:05–14:30 P101, Tue 27. 4. 16:20–19:35 P103, Tue 4. 5. 16:20–19:35 P103, Fri 7. 5. 11:05–14:35 S308

Prerequisites (in Czech)

! PVEPSI Political and social identity

Course Enrolment Limitations

The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.

fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with

there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display

Course objectives

The Course will aim to examine the possible interaction between national, regional and a European Union identity at the economic, political and socio-cultural levels. The first part of the course will outline and examine various theories and concepts identified as useful in analysing any future construction of an economic, political and social European Union identity. In the second part of the course these will be assessed within the context of European Union ‘core values’ (democracy, the rule of law, peace and security, economic stability and prosperity, respect for human rights) and the existing ‘identity’ perspectives of EU citizens. Students will be introduced to a range of theories and concepts identified as useful in analysing any future construction of an economic, political and social European Union identity. In the second part of the course they will then be encouraged to employ these concepts in assessing the opportunities, processes and possibilities for such a construction of a citizenship EU identity.

Syllabus

• PLEASE NOTE: 75% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 3)
• 1. Identity as a concept: the ‘narrative of identity’ in the economic, socio-cultural and political sphere. - the theoretical concept of ‘identity’ - the symbols and processes that produce and contribute to identity - the development of the identity of the European Union as an institution.
• 2. The development of the identity of the European Union - the founding principles and historical development of the European Union - how the identity of the European Union informs its interests and its actions - European Union integration and expansion: federalism, functionalism and neo-functionalism
• 3. Social Constructivism, Essentialism and an EU identity. - the theories of social constructivism and essentialism - identity constituted by the institutionalized norms, values and ideas of the economic, political and social environment of the European Union
• 4. New Institutionalism, Behaviouralism, and an EU identity. - The theories of New Institutionalism and Behaviouralism - the capacity of cultural and organizational practices within EU institutions to mould the preferences, interests and identities of EU citizens - the capacity of, and impact of, economic and social movements and practices (including cultural practices) in shaping an EU identity
• 5. Identity and European Union ‘core values’ - democracy - the rule of law - peace and security - economic stability and prosperity - respect for human rights and minority rights - diversity and tolerance
• 6. A European Union for citizens to identify with: a) federalism and subsidiarity b) the European Union’s international global image, globalisation and EU citizen identity - a European Union identity alongside a Europe of economic, political and socio-cultural regional identity and diversity? - Federalism, a ‘Europe of the Regions’, and a European Union identity
• 7. EU identity today - the perspective of EU citizens. - attitudes to a European Union identity in surveys and opinion polls - policy networks, policy ‘actors’, multi-level governance and the relationship between EU institutional identity and EU citizen identity.
• 8. A European Union identity in the future? - constructed through a narrative of the economic, political and socio-cultural development of the European Union - the interaction of multi-level economic, socio-cultural and political development

Literature

• Cederman, L. (ed.) Constructing Europes Identity: The External Dimension, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
• Christiansen, T. Jorgensen, K.E. and Weiner, A. (Editors) The Social Construction of Europe, London, Sage, 2001.
• Dunkerley, D. et al Changing Europe: identities, nations and citizens, London, Routledge, 2002.
• Graham, B. Modern Europe: place, culture and identity, London, Arnold, 1998.
• Nicoll, W. and Salmon, T.C. Understanding the European Union, Harlow, Longman, 2001.
• Poole, R. Nation and identity, London, Routledge, 1999.
• Shore, C. Building Europe: the cultural politics of the European Union, London, Routledge, 2000.
• Zeff, E. and Pirro, E. The European Union and the Member States: Cooperation, Coordination, and Compromise, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
• Fossum, J.E. Identity Politics in the European Union, in Journal of European Integration, Vol.23, Number 4.
• Journal of European Public Policy 6:4, 1999 (Special Issue on The Social Construction of Europe).
• Other literature and web pages as specified in the syllabus.

Teaching methods

WORKSHOPS
PLEASE NOTE: 100% attendance at workshops is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 3)
Students from each Faculty (ESF and FSS) will be divided into two groups. Each group will have two workshops.
Workshops In the workshops students will be required to work collectively in groups in the first part of the session on questions relating to particular theories and issues within the course and then present their collective findings within the workshop in the second part of the session.
Workshop 1 Questions: a) An E.U. ‘citizen identity’ is possible. An EU ‘citizen identity’ is a good thing (and why?). b) An EU ‘citizen identity’ is not possible. An EU ‘citizen identity’ is not a good thing (and why not?)
Workshop 2 Questions: a) Is national, local/regional or E.U. identity the most prevalent amongst citizens in your town/city/region and country today? b) Social constructivism can contribute significantly to the promotion of the values and ideas of the economic, political and social environment of the European Union, and thereby assist the development of a European Union ‘citizen’ identity. Do you agree?

Assessment methods

ASSESSMENT Attendance Requirement: Lectures: 75% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course Seminars: 100% attendance at workshops is a requirement to pass this course Essay: Students should write an essay of between 1500 (minimum) and 2000 (maximum) words (between 4 and 6 sides of A4 paper) in answer to ONE of the questions shown below. Essays should be properly and fully referenced, and include a full bibliography. They should be word-processed or typed. ESSAYS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO JOHN WILTON BY EMAIL OR THROUGH THE MASARYK UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM BY 11.05.10 1. How can a European Union ‘citizen’ identity be produced? 2. Is economic, social or political E.U. citizen identity most achievable, or a mixture of all three? 3. How can the ‘core values’ of the European Union contribute to the construction and development of a European Union ‘citizen’ identity?

Language of instruction

English

Further comments (probably available only in Czech)

Study Materials
The course can also be completed outside the examination period.
The course is taught only once.
General note: Nezapisují si studenti, kteří absolvovali předmět PVEPSI.

• Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2010, recent)
  
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