European Union: Political Theory and Political Economy

(3 Credit Hours) · Undergraduate

This course aims to analyze the 'European Project' - an "Unidentified Political Object' - through a discrete combination of three approaches: those of Political Theory, Political Economy, and International . Relations (IR). Students are not expected to become a priori theoretically au fait with academic scholarship in these three fields: you shall effectively be practically acquainted with and use political economy, political theory, and IR ideas in analyzing these various facets of the European Union (EU). The course shall be taught in four parts: first, we shall examine critically the historical origins of the European Idea and its 1980s 're-launch;' secondly, we will try to understand what the EU actually us, what it represents in terms of political theory of the State and legitimacy - and how Brexit shall impact upon this; thirdly, the origins, progress, and problems of the political economy of the Euro shall be dissected; and finally, the global meaning, role, and positioning of the EU shall be assessed. If structure is a function of purpose - what exactly is the purpose of the EU in the 21st century and should it appear and work?