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IR 342 POLITICS IN EUROPE
Full Course Title:
Politics in Europe
(Politika u Evropi)
Course Code:
IR 342
Course Level/BiH cycle:
I Study cycle, third year of Bachelor degree studies
ECTS credit value:
6 ECTS
Student work-load:
For the whole semester:
Tutorial /
Lectures
Practical training
37
e.g.
Project
e.g.
Internship
Individual
learning
TOTAL
70
150
43
Classroom:
F 3.10
Length:
Fall semester 2014
Faculty/School/Department:
Faculty of Business Administration / International Relations
Course leader:
Assist.Prof. Dr. Marco Morini
Contact details:
Office 2.5, mmorini@ius.edu.ba
Site:
Host SP:
International Relations
Course status:
Program required course
Pre-requisites:
-
Access restrictions:
-
Assessment:
Participation in class discussion, midterm, presentation, group works, final exam
Course aims:
-
explore the idea of Europe through historical, political, social and cultural processes
- Elaborate current dynamics of politics in Europe (post-Cold war security, changes in
European societal structures, inferences or migration, political parties, territorial politics,
EU)
- give students an understanding of key features and processes in Europe
Learning outcomes:
On successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
-
know how to do research on European issues
-
explain and make conclusions on common trends of European politics
-
understand the role of various factors in European politics (historical developments,
political parties, demographics, social change, welfare systems etc.)
-
analyze challenges that Europe is facing (EU / NATO, rise of right-wing parties, domestic
European terrorism)
Indicative syllabus content:
Investigations into the global meaning of Europe and European politics have raised, and
continue to pose a number of questions. Interestingly, European politics is torn between the
European Union as a unique political entity, its embedded independent nation-states and
aspirant states outside the borders of the EU. This tri-directional relationship will be examined
through outlining political dynamics, developments in policy sectors and external relations of
Europe.
Learning delivery:
Readings (books, book chapters articles, policy papers), lectures, presentations, class
discussions.
Assessment Rationale:
Students will be evaluated based on class participation, discussions, contribution to work
groups, capability of reproducing readings, midterm and final examination
Assessment Weighting:
Participation in class & contribution to class discussion 20%
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Midterm 35%
Final Exam 45%
Essential Reading:
Hay, Colin and Anand Menon. European Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.
Heywood, Paul M., et al., eds. Developments in European Politics. New York: Palgrave Macmillan,
2006.
Articles, book chapters and additional readings might be provided by the instructor
Important notes:
Course policy:
-
The course is built upon multiple learning styles to help students retain information and
strengthen understanding. A variety of strategies and methods will be used to ensure that
all students have equal opportunities to learn.
-
Presentation topics should be thoroughly researched and shown three days in advance to
the lecturer. They must contain an introduction, elaboration of the topic (multi-perspective
analysis: pros/cons, various points of view...), conclusion including the main points,
documentary, graphs/photos/maps etc, and a slide with a reference list. Wikipedia will not
be accepted as a part of the reference list nor can it be the only or main source of
information. In this way, students enhance their own research, critical thinking and
communication skills and gain competence as practitioners of European politics.
-
Assignments shall be submitted on time. Lateness in assignments will only be accepted
with a doctor’s excuse
-
Every student is expected to pursue his/her academic integrity and professionalism.
-
Collaboration among students in assignments is welcome in order to train the students in
team-building and team-working.
-
Attendance will be followed up by the instructor at the beginning or end of classes. Late
students might not be listed in the attendance list on that day. Absence from lectures shall
not exceed 25%. A student who exceeds the limits without medical excuse shall not be
allowed to take the final examination.
-
Students shall come prepared to class to be able to follow course contents and to
participate in class discussion.
-
Bonus/extra credit will be given to a student if he/she wants to improve her grade after
having agreed with the instructor about an additional assignment.
-
Classroom policy requires each student to concentrate on class activity and not to detract
others.
-
Plagiarism will lead to a mark of zero for the course plus disciplinary enquiry.
-
Students with special needs shall contact the lecturer.
Final Exam: all readings and course contents required
Quality assurance:
Please contact Enes Dedic, IUS Quality assurance for quality and complaints
Course schedule:
see table next page
Week
1.
2.
Topic
Relevant
reading
Assignments
Receive relevant
information about the
course’s syllabus
Introductory lecture
A historical overview: The
Learning outcomes
Chapter 1
Movie report: “The Battle of Algiers”
2
Recall seminal knowledge
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Week
Topic
European context
Relevant
reading
(Almond)
about defining moments
of early European history
(Europe’s constructive and
destructive periods, Theory
of modernization)
3.
Beyond Territoriality: Europe
after the Cold War
(Security, Changes in power
projection & force
structures)
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
European Parties & Party
Systems
(Party Families, Party
Organization, Party Systems in
West and East Europe)
QUIZ
Social Change
(Rise of the Services Economy,
Changes in Gender Roles,
Demographic Trends and
Family Changes)
MIDTERM
Muslims in Europe
The Judicialization of
European Politics & Courts
( ECHR, ECJ)
10.
11.
12.
13.
Territorial Politics: State and
Nation-building, Regionalism
A vibrant civil society as a
motor for Europe’s progress
Example of an established
European democracy:
Germany
Chapter
17(Heywood)
Chapter 3
(Almond)
Recognize most relevant
recent historic cleavage of
contemporary European
history
Chapter 12 (Hay
& Menon)
Chapter 6
(Heywood)
Student presentation: “Extreme right
wing parties in Europe”
-
-
Chapter 13 (Hay
& Menon)
Chapter 13
(Heywood)
Student presentation: “Influence of
post-materialism on European
politics”
Student presentation: “RomaEurope’s pariahs”
-
-
Documentary:
Tariq Ramadan
Student presentation: “Muslim
Networks and Movements in
Europe”
Chapter 15 (Hay
& Menon)
Chapter 12
(Heywood)
Chapter 8
(Heywood)
Student presentation: “Challenges to
European democracies: political
scandals, corruption, organized
crime”(Heywood, chapter 9)
Student presentations:
“Spain’s territorial challenges”
“UK’s issue with Scotland and
Ireland”
“Domestic European Terrorism: IRA”
Chapter 8
(Helmond)
.
Chapter 1 (Hay
& Menon)
Chapter 7
(Almond)
Student presentations: “Example of a
transitional European democracy:
Russia”
Movie: “The Wave”
Lessons learnt – final
summarize
Chapter 14
(Hay and
Menon)
15.
FINAL EXAM
-
Differentiate and describe
origins and cleavages of
various EU party families
Interpret the changing
social dynamics in Europe
Assess a relevant social
and ethnic case-study in
contemporary European
society
Categorize the increasing
role of the judiciary in
Europe
Interpret characteristics of
different political
environments at EU
member states level
Infer contemporary
political trends from
political media reports
Understand EU memberstates policies. Case-1:
Germany
“Switzerland as an example of a
direct democracy”
Movie report
14.
Learning outcomes
Assignments
Combine learnt political
knowledge with cultural
and artistic representation
Summarize and complete
previous learning
outcomes
-
-
3
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