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A series of crises - from the great financial crash, the eurozone sovereign debt crisis, Brexit, the climate emergency, Covid-19, and the war in Ukraine - have challenged the political economy of European integration. These crises reveal the fragility of joining together very diverse economies (or what we will call, national varieties of capitalism) into the European Union (EU), while illustrating the tension between national (democratic) politics and supranational (technocratic) politics in the EU.
The objective of the module is to investigate the economic trade-offs and inevitable political conflicts that come with European integration.
The course is taught in three parts. The first part examines different theories of European integration, and asks why European nation-states have delegated such extensive sovereign economic and political powers to supranational bodies. We examine the determinants behind this process, particularly the role of crises. The second part examines the political-economic rationale for the establishment of the single market and the single currency, paying particular attention to monetary policy, and the continued political fallout from the euro crisis. The final part of the course examines the changing nature of class politics and voting behaviour in Europe, and asks whether national party politics are reshaping Europe’s political economy?. We conclude with a discussion on whether voters want more or less European integration.
A core question to consider throughout the course is whether the succession of crises in the EU are bringing European countries closer together, or pulling them further apart. Ask yourself - if the collective action problems facing EU member-states (such as the climate emergency and securing energy supply) require collective action solutions, does this mean member-states need to delegate more and more sovereign powers to the EU? If so, what does that mean for democratic legitimacy at the national and EU level?
The objective of the module is to investigate the economic trade-offs and inevitable political conflicts that come with European integration.
The course is taught in three parts. The first part examines different theories of European integration, and asks why European nation-states have delegated such extensive sovereign economic and political powers to supranational bodies. We examine the determinants behind this process, particularly the role of crises. The second part examines the political-economic rationale for the establishment of the single market and the single currency, paying particular attention to monetary policy, and the continued political fallout from the euro crisis. The final part of the course examines the changing nature of class politics and voting behaviour in Europe, and asks whether national party politics are reshaping Europe’s political economy?. We conclude with a discussion on whether voters want more or less European integration.
A core question to consider throughout the course is whether the succession of crises in the EU are bringing European countries closer together, or pulling them further apart. Ask yourself - if the collective action problems facing EU member-states (such as the climate emergency and securing energy supply) require collective action solutions, does this mean member-states need to delegate more and more sovereign powers to the EU? If so, what does that mean for democratic legitimacy at the national and EU level?
About this Module
Student Effort Hours:
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Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Not applicable to this module.
Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
Assessment Strategy
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Carry forward of passed components
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