PVEUPP European Union Public Policy

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Autumn 2007
Extent and Intensity
2/2. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
doc. Ing. David Špaček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. JUDr. Ivan Malý, CSc.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Lenka Jílková
Timetable
Wed 15:30–17:05 S401
  • Timetable of Seminar Groups:
PVEUPP/1: Wed 17:10–18:45 S401, J. Wilton
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is offered to students of any study field.
The capacity limit for the course is 27 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/27, only registered: 0/27, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/27
Course objectives (in Czech)
Despite definitive debates about whether the European Union (EU) can be equated with the characteristics of a fully fledged state, it is certainly beyond dispute that the EU has acquired for itself at least the policy making attributes of a modern state across an increasingly wide range of policy sectors. As a result it has also gained a considerable degree of power in order to set policy agendas, and formulate, implement and enforce policy decisions.

After a brief introduction to the EU institutions and the EU public policy process this course will take students on a journey that conceptualises the EU public policy process into four sections – agenda setting, policy formulation, policy decision-making and policy implementation. In examining these four parts of the policy process different models of analysis will be employed at different levels within the EU and at different stages of the policy process.

The final section of the course will examine some EU public policy areas, utilising them as case studies within the conceptual frameworks identified in the first part of the course.
Syllabus (in Czech)
  • The course will be taught through a series of 13 weeks of lectures, seminars and workshops.

    LECTURE PROGRAMME:

    1. The development of the European Union and the development of E.U. public policy (19.09.07);

    2. The basis of, and principles underpinning, E.U. public policy: harmonisation, mutual recognition and convergence? (26.09.07);

    3. Agenda-setting 1: role and purpose, E.U. political process, and the nature of agendas (03.10.07);

    4. Agenda-setting 2: fragmentation and the absence of effective policy co-ordination (03.10.07);

    5. Policy formulation 1: the policy communities and policy networks model (10.10.07);

    6. Policy formulation 2: policy-making uncertainty, expertise and epistemic communities, multiple policy-making ‘venues’ (10.10.07);

    17.10.07 READING AND SEMINAR PREPARATION WEEK (no lecture);

    7. Policy decision-making 1: institutional analysis (24.10.07);

    8. Policy decision-making 2: decision-making in the European Parliament (07.11.07);

    9. Policy implementation: implementation as a complex and multifaceted process, inter-organisational behaviour and implementation analysis, characterising implementation in the E.U. (07.11.07);

    10. A case study of the E.U. policy process: Education policy (14.11.07);

    11. Two further case studies of the E.U. policy process: Welfare policy and Environmental policy (21.11.07);

    12. The E.U. policy process: ‘Holidays in Euroland’ (BBC video) (28.11.07);

    13. Regions and the E.U. public policy process (05.12.2007);

    14. The ‘Europeanisation’ of public policy (12.12.07);

    WORKSHOP AND SEMINAR PROGRAMME:

    PLEASE NOTE: 75% attendance at workshop and seminars (i.e. at least 5) is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 4).

    Students will be expected to have read for each workshop and seminar, and participate. Indicative readings are given below for each seminar and workshop.

    WORKSHOP:

    This will consist of student participation and discussion groups, and will take place after the lecture scheduled for 24.10.07.

    24.10.07 - QUESTION: Is harmonisation, mutual recognition or convergence the best principle upon which European Public Policy should be based? Provide reasons and evidence for your preference.

    READINGS: Threlfall, M. (2003) ‘European social integration: harmonization, convergence and the single social area’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13, pp.121-140.

    Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy, 11:2 (various articles of interest)

    Sinn, H-W and Ochel, W (2003) ‘Social Union, convergence and migration’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41, pp.869-96.

    Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001.

    SEMINARS:

    If they wish, students can make a formal verbal seminar paper presentation in English on one of the seminar questions listed below in the Seminar programme. Presentations can be made individually or as part of a group. Students will be encouraged to do so as these presentations can be on topics in the Seminar programme related to their essay question choice, and discussion and feedback in the seminar and in later consultations with the tutor (should these be requested) will greatly assist in the production of the assessment essay. Allocation of seminar presentation topics, on a voluntary basis, will commence from week 2 of the course (26.09.07), and seminars and presentations will commence from week 7 (31.10.07), following the lecture. For seminar topics where no student paper presentation is made there will be general group discussion

    SEMINAR QUESTIONS:

    31.10.07 1. Has the development of European Union public policy assisted E.U. integration and added to E.U. integration theory?

    READINGS: Rosamond, B. Theories Of European Integration, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2000.

    Hix, S. The Political System of the European Union, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2005.

    14.11.07 2. (a) If fragmentation of the institutions of the E.U. is good for a rich diversity of ideas and proposals in agenda-setting what does it mean for effective public policy co-ordination and implementation?

    14.11.07 2. (b) How useful is the policy community and policy networks model in analysing public policy formulation in the European Union?

    READINGS (for 2 (a) and (b)):

    Richardson, J. European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006. (alternatively, Second edition, 2001).

    Hix, S. The Political System of the European Union, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2005.

    McCormick, J. Understanding the European Union (Third edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave , 2005

    Nugent, N. The Government and Politics of the European Union, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

    21.11.07 3. What factors most undermine the negotiating position of the E.U. parliament in the public policy decision-making process?

    READINGS: Richardson, J. European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006. (alternatively, Second edition, 2001).

    Hix, S. The Political System of the European Union, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2005.

    McCormick, J. Understanding the European Union (Third edition), Basingstoke, Palgrave , 2005

    Nugent, N. The Government and Politics of the European Union, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.

    28.11.07 4. Select an E.U. Public Policy area and, providing evidence, assess whether the best principle for that policy to be based upon would be harmonisation, mutual recognition or convergence.

    READINGS: Hantrais, L. Social Policy in the EU, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2000 (second edition) or 2007 (third edition).

    Borros, S. and Greve, B. (2004) The Open Method of Co-ordination in the European Union, special issue of Journal of European Public Policy, 11:2 (various articles of interest)

    Threlfall, M. (2003) ‘European social integration: harmonization, convergence and the single social area’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13, pp.121-140.

    Jordan, A. and Liefferink, D. (eds.) Environmental Policy in Europe: The Europeanization of National Environmental Policy, London, Routledge, 2004.

    Kleinman, M. A European Welfare State: European Union Social Policy in context, Basingstoke, Palgrave, 2002.

    Mosher, J. and Trubek, D. (2003) ‘Alternative approaches to governance in the EU: EU Social Policy and the European Employment Strategy’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 4:1, pp.63-88.

    Guillen, A. and Palier, B. (2004) ‘Does Europe matter? Accession to EU and social policy developments in recent and new member states’, Journal of European Social Policy, 14:3, pp.203-209, and other articles in this special issue on EU Enlargement, Europeanisation and Social Policy.

    Jepsen, M. and Pascual, A.S. (2005) ‘The European Social Model: an exercise in deconstruction’, Journal of European Social Policy, 15(3), pp.231-245.

    Neilson, J. (1998) ‘Equal opportunities for women in the European Union: success or failure?’, Journal of European Social Policy, 8, pp.64-79.

    Sinn, H-W and Ochel, W (2003) ‘Social Union, convergence and migration’, Journal of Common Market Studies, 41, pp.869-96.

    Vobruba, G. (2003) ‘The enlargement crisis of the European Union: limits of the dialectics of integration and expansion’, Journal of European Social Policy, 13 (1), pp.35-48, and responses by M. Bach and M. Rhodes.

    Roberts, I. and Springer, B. Social Policy in the European Union: Between Harmonisation and National Autonomy, Boulder, Lynne Reiner, 2001.

    05.12.07 5. Select an E.U. Public Policy area and, providing evidence, assess whether the best principle for that policy to be based upon would be harmonisation, mutual recognition or convergence. Readings: (as per Seminar 4 on 28.11.07)

    12.12.07 6. What are the links between regions and the E.U. in the public policy making process, and what influence do regions have in that process?

    READINGS: Richardson, J. European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006, Ch.13. (alternatively, Second edition, 2001, Ch.12).

    Farrell, H. and Heritier, A. (2005) ‘A Rationalist-Institutionalist Explanation of Endogenous Regional Integration’, Journal of European Public Policy, 12/2: pp.273-90.
Assessment methods (in Czech)
COURSE ASSESSMENT. a) ATTENDANCE: 75% attendance at lectures (at least 11) and at the seminars/workshop (at least 5) is a requirement to pass this course.

b) ESSAY (maximum 2000 words/6 sides of A4 paper) DEADLINE: Monday 14 January 2008. To be submitted by email or through the Masaryk University Information System.

Students will be required to submit an essay in answer to one of the questions shown below. The essay must be of a maximum of 2,000 words/6 sides of A4 paper, be typewritten, fully properly referenced, and include a full bibliography.

(i) Are the processes of agenda-setting and policy implementation at the two ends of the European Union public policy cycle compatible?

(ii) Is European Union public policy making being ‘Europeanised’ or ‘regionalised’?

(iii) How does the role of the E.U. parliament differ from that of parliaments in E.U. Member States in respect of public policy formulation and decision-making?

(iv) Choose an E.U. Public Policy area and identify positive and negative issues associated with that policy area within the E.U. policy process. Providing evidence, evaluate whether harmonisation, mutual recognition or convergence is the best principle upon which the E.U. should base its policy in your chosen area.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2006, Autumn 2008.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Autumn 2007, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/econ/autumn2007/PVEUPP