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POL40610

Academic Year 2024/2025

EU Foreign, Security, and Defence Pol. (POL40610)

Subject:
Politics
College:
Social Sciences & Law
School:
Politics & Int Relations
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
10
Module Coordinator:
Professor Ben Tonra
Trimester:
Spring
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module introduces students to the foreign, security and defence policy of the European Union. It briefly reviews the development of Europe's security architecture before proceeding to analyse in some depth the goals, capacity and profile of the European Union as an international actor in the field of foreign, security and defence policy as well as its impact on the foreign, security and defence policies of the Member States. The seminar-based module is structured around student-led presentations, some lectures and moderated discussions. Students are expected to be self-starting, to be willing to use (or to develop) good communications skills, to be willing to engage in a cooperative, collegial and mutually-supportive learning environment and to be willing to prepare for seminars through extensive reading and research. Assessment will be made by a variety of means on a continuous assessment basis with a final interactive oral exam. Transferable skills in research, communication, presentation and teamwork will be developed.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

The purpose of this course is to introduce you to the foreign, security and defence policy of the European Union. At its conclusion you will be expected to be able to explain the theoretical bases of international security policy in the post-Cold War context of European foreign, security and defence policy. You will also be expected to be able to contextualise and to explain the European Union's capacity as an international actor in these areas. You will also be expected to explain why the EU is deserving of attention in this area and to outline its international role. You should also be prepared to offer an empirically based assessment of the Union's success and/or failure as an international actor and an informed assessment of the critical issues that it faces.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

180
Seminar (or Webinar)

24
Total

204

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
The unit will be taught in two-hour seminars in Trimester Two. All students are expected to; read the required reading and some supplementary reading, reflect critically on this reading in the light of the oral presentations, adopt an analytical and collegial approach in seminar discussions and presentations, use the internet to access a sample of web-based resources available. The Brightspace system will be used as a support to the module and for students.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy  
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Exam (Online): Interactive Oral Exam (IOE) will be based on a single specific scenario communicated to students in advance conducted via recorded zoom. Week 14 Graded No

30

 No
Assignment(Including Essay): Each student must submit a 1500-2000 word review of an EU foreign policy-based video (debate, conference presentation, webinar). Week 5 Graded No

20

 No
Group Work Assignment: An oral seminar presentation on a specified seminar topic, responding to the seminar prompts provided. Depending on class numbers, this will likely entail a group presentation. Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11 Graded No

40

 No
Participation in Learning Activities: Contribution to seminar discussions will account for the final 10 percent of the grade Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

10

 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Autumn Yes - 1 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Written feedback is provided on submitted written work and to group presentations.

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