European Union: Politics and Theorization
0
2024-2025
01013332
Área Científica do Menor
Portuguese
Face-to-face
SEMESTRIAL
6.0
Elective
1st Cycle Studies
Recommended Prerequisites
NA
Teaching Methods
To achieve the learning outcomes, this curricular combines the expository method with more practical teaching methods, including the critical analysis and debate of recommended readings. The goal is to foster an active engagement of students in the classroom, thus providing a valuable basis to sustain their academic path. To the same purpose, students will develop relevant skills to conduct case-studies analysis and to elaborate academic essays.
Learning Outcomes
The curricular unit aims to provide students with the theoretical and conceptual frameworks to understand and assess the European Union political system.
At the end of the semester, students must be able to:
1. Identify the dominant theoretical approaches to the European integration process
2. Identify key moments in the history of the integration process
3. Identify the chief institutions and political actors of the EU
4. Understand the policy-making cycle and assess the EU in terms of legitimacy and democracy
5. Identify the main EU policies and decision-making methods
6. Assess the implications of the EU’s developments for domestic politics.
Work Placement(s)
NoSyllabus
1. Introductory concepts: the EU as a political system
2. Theories of European integration and theories of EU governance
3. From the European Communities to the EU: Brief historical overview
4. Main EU institutions
5. Other political actors in the EU
6. Policies and the EU policy-cycle: agenda-setting; policy formulation; decision-making; implementation; assessment
7. Europeanization, democracy, and legitimacy in the EU.
Assessment Methods
Assessment
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Research work: 30.0%
Frequency: 50.0%
Bibliography
Bache, I. et al. (2014). Politics in the European Union (4ª ed.). Oxford University Press.
Brandão, A.P., Coutinho, F.P., Camisão, I., & Abreu, J.C. (2017). Enciclopédia da União Europeia. Petrony.
Cini, M., & Borragán, N.P. (2019). European Union Politics (6ª ed.). Oxford University Press.
Hix, S., & Hoyland, B. (2011). The Political System of the European Union (3ª ed.). Palgrave Macmillan.
McCormick, J. (2020). European Union Politics (3ª ed.). Red Globe Press.
Nugent, N. (2017). The Government and Politics of the European Union (8ª ed.). Palgrave.
Silva, A.M. da (2013). Sistema Político da União Europeia: Arquitectura, Funcionamento e Teorização. Almedina.