EVS424 Economic, Political and Social Identity in the European Union

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2011
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 8 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer), PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D.
Department of International Relations and European Studies – Faculty of Social Studies
Contact Person: Olga Cídlová, DiS.
Timetable
Wed 13. 4. 12:00–13:30 U43, Wed 20. 4. 12:00–15:40 U43
Prerequisites (in Czech)
! EVS143 Econ.,Pol.,Soc. Ident. in EU
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 10 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/10, only registered: 0/10
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The Course will aim to examine the possible interaction between national, regional and a European Union identity at the economic, political and socio-cultural levels. After the first part of the course, students will be able to outline and examine various theories and concepts identified as useful in analysing any future construction of an economic, political and social European Union identity. After the second part of the course, students will be able to assess the context of European Union ‘core values’ (democracy, the rule of law, peace and security, economic stability and prosperity, respect for human rights) and the existing ‘identity’ perspectives of EU citizens.
Students will be introduced to a range of theories and concepts identified as useful in analysing any future construction of an economic, political and social European Union identity. In the second part of the course they will then be encouraged to employ these concepts in assessing the opportunities, processes and possibilities for such a construction of a citizenship EU identity.
Syllabus
  • 1. Identity as a concept: the ‘narrative of identity’ in the economic, socio-cultural and political sphere
  • 2. The development of the identity of the European Union
  • 3. Social Constructivism, Essentialism and an EU identity
  • 4. New Institutionalism, Behaviouralism, and an EU identity
  • 5. Identity and European Union ‘core values’
  • 6. A European Union for citizens to identify with: a) federalism and subsidiarity; b) the European Union’s international global image, globalisation and EU citizen identity
  • 7. EU identity today
  • 8. A European Union identity in the future?
  • + 4 workshops (2 workshops for each group of students), see detailed syllabus of the course
Literature
  • Poole, R. Nation and identity, London, Routledge, 1999.
  • Graham, B. Modern Europe: place, culture and identity, London, Arnold, 1998.
  • Nicoll, W. and Salmon, T.C. Understanding the European Union, Harlow, Longman, 2001.
  • Herrmann, R. Risse, T. and Brewer, M. (eds.) Transnational Identities, Oxford, Rowman and Littlefield, 2004.
  • Van Ham, P. European integration and the post-modern condition, London, Routledge, 2001.
  • Zeff, E. and Pirro, E. The European Union and the Member States: Cooperation, Coordination, and Compromise, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
  • Robyn, R. The changing face of European identity, London, Routledge, 2005.
  • Shore, C. Building Europe: the cultural politics of the European Union, London, Routledge, 2000.
  • Laffan, B. “The European Union and Its Institutions as ‘Identity Builders’”, in Herrmann, R. Risse, T. and Brewer, M. (eds.) Transnational Identities, Oxford, Rowman and Littlefield, 2004.
  • Dunkerley, D. et al Changing Europe: identities, nations and citizens, London, Routledge, 2002.
  • Bruter, M. Citizens of Europe? The Emergence of a Mass European Identity, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2005.
  • Christiansen, T. Jorgensen, K.E. and Weiner, A. (Editors) The Social Construction of Europe, London, Sage, 2001.
  • Cederman, L. (ed.) Constructing Europe's Identity: The External Dimension, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
Teaching methods
lectures involving class discussions; workshops to practise team work and presentation skills; essays to improve the ability of students to analyze issues of economic, political and social identity in the European Union; readings to broaden and deepen the spectrum of knowledge acquired during lectures
Assessment methods
Attendance Requirement:
Lectures: 75% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course
Seminars: 100% attendance at workshops is a requirement to pass this course
Essay: Students should write an essay of between 1500 (minimum) and 2000 (maximum) words (between 4 and 6 sides of A4 paper) in answer to ONE of the given questions. Essays should be properly and fully referenced, and include a full bibliography. They should be word-processed or typed.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2009, Spring 2010, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2011, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2011/EVS424