Course Information
SemesterCourse Unit CodeCourse Unit TitleT+P+LCreditNumber of ECTS CreditsLast Updated Date
7PSIR453Current Issues in EU Politics3+0+03503.01.2026
Course Details
Language of Instruction English
Level of Course Unit Bachelor's Degree
Department / Program Political Science and International Relations
Type of Program Formal Education
Type of Course Unit Elective
Course Delivery Method Face To Face
Objectives of the Course This course aims to familiarise the students with a necessary background to conceive origin, evolution, functions, institutions, and actors of the European Union. Second, it invites the students to develop an academic perspective to evaluate analytical scope of the major theoretical frameworks of European integration. Third, the course also invites the students to critically reflect on the complexity of the EU and stimulate the students to critically read and understand academic texts and political statements about policy, actor, issue, institutional, and conceptual dimensions, prospects and challenges characterizing European economic and political integration process. Fourth, on the successful completion of this course, all students are expected to develop their skills in appraising and deducing the most important economic and political problems and critically reflecting on themes and issues relating to the EU.
Course Content This course is designed to provide an understanding of the historical foundations and evolution of the European economic and political integration process; policy areas, institutions and policy-making in the European Union with an emphasis on the major theoretical frameworks of European integration and governance (i.e. neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism, multi-level governance and Europeanization) as well as current scholarly discussions, policy debates and issues that revolve around deepening and widening of European integration process particularly the Euro crisis, Brexit, populism, the migration and refugee crisis, COVID19 and EU health policy, and future of the EU. The course will also cover the study of the post-Lisbon Treaty institutional reforms, enlargement policy and analysis of EU as a diplomatic actor in the world.

This course provides an integrated assessment and adopts a multidimensional approach embracing theories, issues, institutions, policies, and future trajectory of the EU that epitomize this ever-evolving integration process. The course concludes with exploration of current trends, challenges as well as future potentials in European integration process.

Each class will begin with a lecture and end up with a brainstorming exercise.
Throughout lectures critical-thinking questions help students develop more well-informed ideas about topics at each week; develop their critical thinking skills and apply what they have learned.
Course Methods and Techniques • Lecture
• Case study
• Small group work
• Interactive discussions
• Homework
Prerequisites and co-requisities None
Course Coordinator None
Name of Lecturers Asist Prof.Dr. BURÇİN ULUĞ burcin.eryilmaz@hku.edu.tr
Assistants None
Work Placement(s) No

Recommended or Required Reading
Resources European Union Politics, Michelle Cini and Nieves Pérez-Solorzano Borragan, 7th ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2022. *
The Government and Politics of the European Union, Neill Nugent, 8th ed. London: Palgrave, 2017.
The European Union As A Diplomatic Actor, Joachim A. Koops and Gjovalin Macaj (eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2015.
Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction, John McCormick, 4th ed. Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008.
Course Notes -

Course Category
Social Sciences %100

Planned Learning Activities and Teaching Methods
Activities are given in detail in the section of "Assessment Methods and Criteria" and "Workload Calculation"

Assessment Methods and Criteria
In-Term Studies Quantity Percentage
Mid-terms 1 % 40
Attendance 13 % 10
Practice 2 % 0
Final examination 1 % 50
Total
17
% 100

 
ECTS Allocated Based on Student Workload
Activities Quantity Duration Total Work Load
Course Duration 15 3 45
Presentation 5 7 35
Mid-terms 1 20 20
Practice 2 10 20
Final examination 1 30 30
Total Work Load   Number of ECTS Credits 5 150

 
Course Learning Outcomes: Upon the successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
NoLearning Outcomes
1 Develop knowledge and understanding of the origin, evolution, functions, and institutions of the European Union.
2 Demonstrate competency in the basic approaches and perspectives in evaluating various theoretical approaches, key actors, and policies of the EU.
3 Develop their skills in appraising and deducing the the most important economic and political problems and critically reflecting on themes and issues relating to the EU. Discuss the ideas in a group/team structure by taking responsibility and with respect to other ideas and cultures.
4 Identify and explore the historical foundations of European integration.
5 Critically read and understand academic texts and political statements regarding politics of the EU.

 
Weekly Detailed Course Contents
WeekTopicsStudy MaterialsMaterials
1 Welcome; Course Procedures and Methodology -
2 Historical Evolution of European Integration: Deepening and Widening of Integration Process (I) *Cini, Michelle and Pérez-Solorzano Borragan (2022) ‘Introduction’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 1-6. * Phinnemore, D. (2022) ‘The European Union: Establishment and Development’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 9-28.
3 Historical Evolution of European Integration: Deepening and Widening of Integration Process (II) Church, C. and D. Phinnemore (2022) ‘Carrying the EU Forward: The Era of Lisbon’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 29-49.
4 Conceptualizing and Theorizing European Integration and EU Politics (I) *Jensen, C.S. (2022) ‘Neofunctionalism’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.53-66. *Cini, M. (2022) ‘Intergovernmentalism’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.67-80. *Rosamond, B. (2022) ‘Theorizing the European Union After Integration Theory’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.81-98.
5 Conceptualizing and Theorizing European Integration and EU Politics (II) *Christiansen, T. (2022) ‘Governance in the European Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.99-111. *Börzel T. A. and D. Panke (2022) ‘Europeanization’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.112-123. *Smismans, S. (2022) ‘Democracy and Legitimacy in the European Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.124-138.
6 Institutional Edifice of the EU (I): The European Commission; The European Council; Council of the EU *Egeberg, M. (2022) ‘The European Commission’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.141-154. *Lewis, J. (2022) ‘The European Council and the Council of the European Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.155-174.
7 Institutional Edifice of the EU (II): European Parliament; Court of Justice of the EU *Burns, C. (2022) ‘The European Parliament’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.175-187. *Kapsis, I. (2022) ‘The Court of Justice of the European Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.188-201.
8 MID TERM EXAM
9 Dynamics of Policy-Making and Policy Process and Qualities of Key Policy Areas at EU Level: Trade and Development Policies, Enlargement *Best, E. (2022) ‘Policy-making in the European Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.235-250. *Smith, M. (2022) ‘Trade and Development Policies’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.251-263. *Juncos, A.E. and N. Borragan (2022) ‘Enlargement’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.264-278.
10 Key Policy Areas at EU Level: The EU’s Foreign, Security and Defence Policies *Friis, A. M. and A. E. Juncos (2022) ‘The European Union’s Foreign, Security, and Defence Policies’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.279-292.
11 Key Policy areas at EU Level: Single Market; The Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice; Economic and Monetary Union *Egan, M. (2022) ‘The Single Market’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.293-307. *Uçarer, E. M. (2022) ‘The Area of Freedom, Security, and Justice’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.308-323. *Verdun, A. (2022) ‘Economic and Monetary Union’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.324-338.
12 Key Debates and Issues: The Euro Crisis; Migration and Refugee Crisis; Brexit *Hodson, D. and U. Puetter (2022) ‘The Euro Crisis and European Integration’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.373-388. *Geddes A. (2022) ‘The Migration and Refugee Crisis’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 390-402. *Cini M. and N. Borragan (2022) ‘Brexit’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.403-420.
13 Covid19 and EU Health Policy *Brooks et al. (2022) ‘Covid-19 and EU Health Policy’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.421-435.
14 Reflections on the Future of the EU *Laffan, B. (2019) ‘The Future of the EU’ in M. Cini and N. Borragan (eds.) European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp.436-448.
15 Wrap Up; Overview
16 FINAL EXAM

 
Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes
P1 P2 P3 P4 P5 P6 P7 P8 P9 P10
C1 4 2 4 4 4 4 3 5 3 4
C2 5 3 3 4 3 5 4 4 2 3
C3 3 4 3 3 2 4 3 3 3 3
C4 2 4 4 2 4 4 2 3 4 4
C5 4 3 3 4 5 3 3 5 3 5

  Contribution: 1: Very Slight 2:Slight 3:Moderate 4:Significant 5:Very Significant