EVSn4002 Organized Interests in the EU

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 7 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Markéta Pitrová, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Supplier department: Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! EVS403 Organized Interests in the EU && !NOW( EVS403 Organized Interests in the EU ) && (! MVE404 Organized Interests in the EU )
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to observe the enforcement mechanism of organized interest in the EU, mainly in the structure of the European Commission and the European Parliament. The course deals with the general methods and principles of the “Eurolobby” and provides an overview of the main actors.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course, students should be able to understand lobbying principles and identify the key agents. He/She will be able to define the basic strategy progress.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introduction into the topic of lobbyism
  • 2. The structure of interest groups
  • 3. The interest enforcement policy of the EU
  • 4. The EU access channels
  • 5. Critics and regulation
  • 6. The business and employer interests in the EU
  • 7. Comitology
  • 8.-13: Workshops, guests
Literature
    required literature
  • SCHENDELEN, M. P. C. M. van. Jak lobbovat v Evropské unii, aneb, Machiavelli v Bruselu. Translated by Pavel Dufek. 1. vyd. Brno: Centrum strategických studií, 2004, 350 s. ISBN 8086598756. info
  • BOHATÁ, Marie. Etika a integrita veřejné správy. Vydání 1. Praha: Grada, 2021, 175 stran. ISBN 9788027133116. URL info
  • LABOUTKOVÁ, Šárka, Vít ŠIMRAL and Petr VYMĚTAL. Transparent lobbying and democracy. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020, xxiii, 266. ISBN 9783030360436. info
    recommended literature
  • LABOUTKOVÁ, Šárka and Petr VYMĚTAL. Lobbing v moderních demokraciích. Edited by Karel Müller. Vyd. 1. Praha: Grada, 2010, 256 s. ISBN 9788024731650. URL info
  • Olson, M.: The logic of collective action. Harvard University Press, 1971
  • The unseen hand : unelected EU legislators. Edited by M. P. C. M. van Schendelen - Roger Scully. Portland, OR: F. Cass, 2003, 132 p. ISBN 0203584406. URL info
  • EPPINK, Derk Jan. Život evropského mandarína : uvnitř komise. 1. české vyd. Praha: EU Relaunch, 2011, 363 s. ISBN 9788090507708. URL info
Teaching methods
The course is based on lectures and guided discussion. The students will discuss the ethic codes and other regulations in the EU in individual groups.
Assessment methods
The course is finished by an oral examination. Student will also prepare the lobbing case study in team and tests during the first part of the course.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: every week.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Předmět nezapisují studenti, kteří ho již absolvovali pod kódem MVE404.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/EVSn4002