Objectives and competences
The aim of the course is to develop conceptual understanding of European Foreign Policy and EU external action and to develop analytical skills to apply this knowledge for policy analysis and prescription. Other competences of the student to be developed are expert analysis and academic writing, oral participation, group work.
Content (Syllabus outline)
The course equips students with the ability to think critically about the role of the EU in international relations. It begins with the historical development of the EU’s external action, its legal evolution, and an overview of theoretical approaches that seek to make sense of the foreign policy of such a unique actor as European integration.
We then move on to understanding how European foreign policy is formed. Who makes decisions? Which factors influence the direction and capacities of the EU in its external action? In this part, we will also examine the instruments of EU foreign policy.
The third part of the course focuses on specific policies and relationships. Particular attention will be devoted to relations with neighbouring countries and major powers, as well as to security and other current issues.
Learning and teaching methods
Lectures, seminar and tutorials in small groups, thematic workshops, individual and small group assignments, e-classroom (distance learning), active (reflective) teaching, written analytical work.
Intended learning outcomes - knowledge and understanding
Conceptual mastering of European foreign policy, EU external relations, European Political Cooperation, EU foreign policy, EU external action, CFSP by EU primary legislation and International Relations (historical and theoretical) interpretation. Mastering of process analysis and substantive analysis (vertical and horizontal) of EU external action. Application of the concepts to chosen cases of horizontal and vertical analysis.
Readings
- Bretherton, Charlotte and John Volger. 2006. The European Union as a Global Actor. 2nd Ed. London and New York: Routledge.
- Hill, Christopher, Michael Smith and Sophie Vonhoonacker. 2017. International Relations and the European Union. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
- Keulkeleire, Stephan and Tom Delreux. 2014. The Foreign Policy of the European Union. 2nd Ed. Baginstoke: Palgrave.
- Butler, Graham and Ramses A. Wessel (eds). 2022. EU External Relations Law: The Cases in Context. Oxford: Hart.
Prerequisits
No prerequisits.
Additional information on implementation and assessment Written exam - 50 %,
oral presentation - 20 %,
essay - 30 %.
