Course Syllabus

The European Game of Politics: Crisis and Survival

 

Semester & Location:	Fall 2017- DIS Copenhagen
Type & Credits:	Core Course - 3 credits
Core Course Study Tours:	Hamburg, Germany and Brussels, Belgium
Major Disciplines:	Political Science, International Relations
Faculty Members:	Kristian Weise and Rune Riisbjerg Thomsen
Program Director:	Neringa Bigalaite Vendelbo: nb@dis.dk
Time & Place:	Monday/Thursday 8.30-9.50, ST3-21

Description of Course

The European integration has been one of the most decisive developments since the Second World War. Europe was destroyed and the main question was how to avoid a new war in Europe in the light of the Cold War. Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 Europe has experienced a remarkable transformation with significant consequences for the region’s most important international organization, the European Union.

Externally, the EU has slowly been emerging as a major player on the world scene, while internally the system attempts to strike a balance between continued enlargement and further political integration. However, lately the European Union and the European cooperation are facing its most serious crisis with Brexit, the so-called refugee crisis, as well as the aftermath of the financial crisis and challenges in relation to the Euro.

What is the European Union, what are its policies and what is it developing into? What are the forces shaping Europe’s future? Who are the major actors? Will the European Union survive the present crisis? This course examines these question, with a particular emphasis on the economic dimension, to understand the EU, its crises and future.

Content: 

The course traces the development of European integration over the last decades. It analyses the role of major actors in shaping the European Union, and discusses main EU policies. Current challenges facing the European Union, such as the Euro-crisis, and contestation and co-operation between the EU and European governments on the European economy will be studied. Case studies of political events unfolding during the semester will be used to supplement the course.

I:          Introduction, history, institutions, theories, issues

II:         Core Course Week: Guest lecture, field studies and short Study Tour

III:        Policies of the EU

IV:        Long Study Tour: Visit to Brussels

V:         Current issues and struggles over Europe

VI:        Simulation Game – playing the European Council: How to negotiate and compromise on       national interests.

Learning Objectives

• Students should gain an understanding of what the EU is in theory and especially in practice by studying the forces governing contemporary European politics, the competing interests influencing the policies of the European Union, the functioning of EU institutions and the decision-making processes, and the significance of the EU for European integration.
• Students will, through selected readings and class discussion, get a view of international relations from the European and EU member state perspectives, and a particular understanding of the economic agenda of the Union.
• Students will write analytical papers by studying and discussing how current political science research is conducted (e.g. what constitutes sound evidence and arguments in political science).
• Students should increase their ability to analyze and discuss complex political issues.

 

Faculty

Kristian Weise

Kristian Weise is Director of the Danish think tank Cevea. He has previously been Head of Secretariat for the Danish Social Democrats in the European Parliament and an adviser and analyst for the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), the Danish Confederation of Trade Unions (LO) and former Danish Prime Minister, Poul Nyrup Rasmussen. All in all, he has lived and worked 5 years in Brussels.

He holds an MSc in Political Sociology from London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) and a BSc in Philosophy and Economics from Copenhagen Business School (CBS).

Rune Riisbjerg Thomsen

MSc in International Business and Politics and BSc in Business Administration and Sociology (Copenhagen Business School). Rune works as a project manager in research and development at Den Sociale Kapitalfond (Danish venture fund for social enterprises and finance). His research and work focuses primarily future labor markets, environmental policy, as well as on international and EU policy around labor markets, trade, utilities, social issues and environmental finance.

Readings

• Staab, Andreas, The European Union Explained 2008
• Sophie Vanhoonacker, The EU as a system of IR, in International Relations and the European Union. 2017
• The Schuman Declaration 1950
• Richard Corbet et al., “The EU Institutions”, in Elizabeth Bomberg et. al., The European Union. How does it work? 2012
• Civitas, “Theories of European Integration” 2015
• Stiglitz, Joseph: The Euro: How a Common Currency Threatens the Future of Europe, chapter 1,  2016
• Sophie Meunier and Kalypso Nicolaidis ‘The EU as a trade power’ in ‘International Relations and the European Union 2017
• A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth’, Communication from the Commission on Europe 2020
• Taking stock of the Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth
• European Commission ‘White paper on the future of Europe

Field Studies

Wednesday, September 27, 18.30-12.30: Visit to the Danish Foreign Ministry

Expectations of the Students

Participation

The course consists of a series of lectures, guest lectures, a field study, two study tours and a simulation game. Attendance is mandatory. The readings provide the basis for student presentations and discussion in each lecture and you may be called upon randomly. All obligatory readings, lectures, guest lectures, field studies, study tours and the simulation game are drawn upon for the short answer tests, the research paper and the midterm. Additional material will be distributed during the course.        

Evaluation

Negotiation Simulation Game

The course includes a special simulation game section, in which students ”representing” the EU member states negotiate a current issue following the actual negotiation format of the EU Council of Ministers or the European Council.

To prepare for the simulation game a documentary shown in class gives a behind-the-scenes view of the bargaining that took place under the leadership of Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen during the final negotiations for enlargement at the EU Copenhagen Summit in 2002.

 Furthermore, you will be introduced to the rules of the game, the case around which the game evolves, and be divided into "countries."

Grading

Assignment	Percent
Midterm Exam on 5 October	20%
Participation on Study Tours, Including Political Actor Assignments	15%
A 2500 word Research Paper	35%
Participation in and preparation for classes, and field studies	10%
Participation in all phases of the simulation game (incl. final evaluation and country position papers)	20%

Disability and Resource Statement  

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Academic Support (acadsupp@dis.dk) to coordinate this.  In order to receive accommodations, students should inform the instructor of approved DIS accommodations within the first two weeks of classes.

Policies

Attendance

You are expected to attend all classes, guest lectures, workshops and field studies. If you must miss a class for religious holidays, medical reasons, or other valid reasons, you must let us know as far in advance as possible of the absence and obtain information about the work you must do to keep up in class. If you miss a class for any other reason (sudden illness, family emergency, etc.), you should get in touch with us as soon as possible and arrange to make up the work missed.

It is crucial for your learning that you stay on task and hand in assignments on or before the due date. All work– including in-class projects – have to be completed in order to pass the class. Late papers or projects will be marked down with 1/3 of a grade for each day it is late.

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism and Violating the Rules of an Assignment

DIS expects that students abide by the highest standards of intellectual honesty in all academic work. DIS assumes that all students do their own work and credit all work or thought taken from others.   Academic dishonesty will result in a final course grade of “F” and can result in dismissal. The students’ home universities will be notified. DIS reserves the right to request that written student assignments be turned in electronic form for submission to plagiarism detection software.  See the Academic Handbook for more information, or ask your instructor if you have questions.

Use of computers, iPhones, cell phones etc. in class

Computers and iPhones are allowed in class PURELY for note taking purposes. In case of other uses such as Facebook, emails or internet surfing, it will have a negative impact on your participation grade. Cell phones are to be shut off during class and texting/SMS’ing etc. during class will have a negative impact on your participation grade.

Study Tours

CORE COURSE WEEK, Copenhagen- September 11-13, Hamburg, Germany September 14-16

LONG STUDY TOUR, October 8- October 13,

Brussels: Hands-on insights into current European political affairs and “how the game is being played” through study visits to international and EU political institutions and actors, in addition to cultural visits. Meetings with representatives from the Danish EU Commissioners cabinet, the High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy/ the Council, and members of the European Parliament, as well as different interest groups and lobby organisations. Student group interviews with specific political actors: Lobbyists and member states permanent representatives.

Core Course Week and Study Tours

Core Course week and study tours are an integral part of the core course as we take the classroom on the road and see how theory presented in the classroom is translated into practice in the field. You will travel with your classmates and DIS faculty/staff on two study tours; a short study tour during Core Course Week and a long study tour to a relevant European destination.

 Expectations for study tours:

• Participate in all activities
• Engage in discussions, ask questions, and contribute to achieving the learning objectives
• Respect the destination, the speakers, DIS staff, and your fellow classmates
• Represent yourself, your home university and DIS in a positive light

 While on a program study tour DIS will provide hostel/hotel accommodation, transportation to/from the destination(s), approx. 2 meals per day and entrances, guides, and visits relevant to your area of study or the destination. You will receive a more detailed itinerary prior to departure.

 Travel policies:

You are required to travel with your group to the destination. If you have to deviate from the group travel plans, you need approval from the program director and the study tours office.