The Politics of the European Union

Studying the European Union offers a portal into multiple important political dynamics that are beneficial for understanding other actors around the world. The EU has developed into a supranational political system with executive, legislative and judicial institutions. 
European integration made rapid progress from 1992, moving from the creation of a common market to a currency union, enlargement to twenty eight member states and further plans to strengthen economic and political union. On the other hand, recent setbacks (such as the collapse of the ‘European constitution’ the Eurozone crisis, and Brexit) have rekindled debates concerning the legitimacy, speed and direction of the European project. While Member States retain sovereignty in many areas, they share it in others. Meanwhile, certain types of competence have been relocated almost entirely to the EU. The module explores the historical context behind integration, the development of EU institutions, the decision-making process and popular attitudes to closer union, as well as selected policy areas, particularly climate change and foreign policy. These themes will help us better understand the policies and processes underpinning current debates on the EU’s future. 

Keywords

European Union
European integration
Institutions
Theories
Member states
Climate Change
Foreign Policy
Policy studies
 

This course is available to all students. There are no pre-requisites.

Studying the European Union offers a portal into multiple important political dynamics that are beneficial for understanding other actors around the world. The EU has developed into a supranational political system with executive, legislative and judicial institutions. European integration made rapid progress from 1992, moving from the creation of a common market to a currency union, enlargement to twenty eight member states and further plans to strengthen economic and political union. On the other hand, recent setbacks (such as the collapse of the 'European constitution', the Eurozone crisis, and Brexit have rekindled debates concerning the legitimacy, speed and direction of the European project. While Member States retain sovereignty in many areas, they share it in others. Meanwhile, certain types of competence have been relocated almost entirely to the EU. 
The module explores the historical context behind integration, the development of EU institutions, the decision-making process and popular attitudes to closer union, as well as selected policy areas, particularly climate change and foreign policy. These themes will help us better understand the policies and processes underpinning current debates on the EU's future.

Lecture topics include: 
• The evolution of European integration 
• The European Union's institutions 
• Theoretical approaches to the study of the European Union 
• The European Union and its member states 
• Economic and social policy 
• Environmental and climate change policy
• Security and justice policy 
• Foreign and defence policy 
• Enlargement and disintegration
 

1600 word Essay (40%) 

2400 word Essay (60%) 

Politics staff will provide feedback on written work within 15 working days of submission via Blackboard (if submitted through Turnitin).

Students should be aware that all marks are provisional until confirmed by the external examiner and the final examinations boards in June.

For modules that do not have examination components the marks and feedback for the final assessed component are not subject to the 15 working day rule and will be released with the examination results. This applies to Semester 2 modules only. Semester one modules with no final examination will have their feedback available within the 15 working days.

You will receive feedback on assessed essays in a standard format. This will rate your essay in terms of various aspects of the argument that you have presented your use of sources and the quality of the style and presentation of the essay. If you have any queries about the feedback that you have received you should make an appointment to see your tutor. Tutors and Course Convenors also have a dedicated office hour when you can meet with her/him to discuss course unit specific problems and questions.

On assessments submitted through Canvas you will receive feedback via Canvas This will include suggestions about ways in which you could improve your work in future. You will also receive feedback on non-assessed coursework, whether this is individual or group work. This may be of a more informal kind and may include feedback from peers as well as academic staff

• Bakardjieva Engelbrekt et al., The European Union in a Changing World Order, 2020: Free to download when logged in to University of Manchester, and each chapter is quite brief: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-18001-0
• Corner, M., 2014. The European Union: An Introduction. Bloomsbury Publishing. This book is not available via the University Library (only a review of it is). However, it is old now so second-hand copies are cheap online. It is accessible, and is mostly accurate enough for the main ideas, but was published over a decade ago, prior to Brexit and much else. In short: it explains the big ideas very well, but the last decade is missing.

There are many podcasts about understanding the EU, so if you’re a fan of podcasts, they can be a good way to learn more.

 
The Explainer: Everything you need to know about how the EU works but were too afraid to ask

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-eu-works/id1452246930?i=1000651605425 (34min)  

I will make available the main course textbook to everyone on the course – you do not need to buy it. The course textbook is the following:

• McCormick, J., 2026. European Union Politics. Bloomsbury Publishing.