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POL40970

Academic Year 2024/2025

Politics of European Governance (POL40970)

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

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module is for graduate programmes in Politics and International Relations.

This course analyses the institutions, actors, and policy-making processes in the European Union (EU). How does the EU manage to cope with the heterogeneity of interests, ideas, actors, and policy problems? Can European governance be effective and democratic? The class develops theory-driven answers to these questions. In addition, it analyses important themes of EU research (including how the EU makes decisions, the effects of enlargement, the EU’s effects on public opinion and party competition, and the relationship between transparency and democracy to name but a few).


About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On successful completion of this module, students should have an enhanced understanding of the following topics, and the relevant academic literature:
- Explain the historical development of the European integration project from its beginnings as the European Coal and Steel Community to the institution we see today;
- Understand the major theories of EU integration and use them to analyse European integration;
- The contemporary politics of the EU, including the objectives and functioning of its institutions;
- How the EU has influenced both public opinion and the positions taken by political parties;
- Discuss the current and future challenges facing the EU in light of the theories discussed throughout the module;
- Critically engage with academic writings and theories; and
- Explain key concepts about integration to others both verbally and in writing.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24

Autonomous Student Learning

200

Total

224


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
- Seminar discussion
- Active/task-based learning
- Peer and group work

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
Group Work Assignment: Seminar Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

25

No
Reflective Assignment: Peer-review work Week 7, Week 8, Week 9 Graded No

25

No
Group Work Assignment: Group project Week 3, Week 4, Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8, Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12 Graded No

50

No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Summer No
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
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Not yet recorded.