EGO424 Europe and Global Politics

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2018
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Petr Suchý, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jana Urbanovská, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
prof. PhDr. Vít Hloušek, 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
Timetable
Tue 9:45–11:15 U43
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 goal of the course is to provide students with basic insights into the nature of European and global politics. The course focuses on the recent debate concerning European involvement in global politics, on transatlantic relations and on the issue of Europe as a regional/global security actor. At the end of the course, students should acquire a solid command of various current issues and debates relevant to the role of the EU and Europe as a whole in world politics. Students will understand the difficulties the EU is facing in its search for a more coherent foreign policy. Students will also be able to analyze particular problems (e.g. human rights, common security and defense, and anti-missile defense) whose solutions imply more unified European action.
Syllabus
  • 1. Introductory session (Urbanovská)
  • 2. European Union as a Foreign Policy Actor (Kuchyňková)
  • 3. EU as a normative power? Prospects and limits in the EU´s Eastern neighbourhood (Kuchyňková)
  • 4. EU – Between a Normative Actor and Realist Policy. The case of the EU policy towards Russia (Kuchyňková)
  • 5. European Union and Human Rights and Democracy Promotion. The case of Belarus (Kuchyňková)
  • 6. Eastern Partnership and its Future. The case of the EU policy towards Ukraine (Kuchyňková)
  • 7. Europe and the United States: Different Perception of Security Threats or Differing Preferences for the Approaches towards their Resolution? (Suchý)
  • 8. Europe, USA, Strategic Cultures and Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) (Suchý)
  • 9. European Union as a Security Actor: the rise of a unique crisis manager (Urbanovská)
  • 10. Reading week
  • 11. From European Security Strategy to EU Global Strategy (Urbanovská)
  • 12. European Union as a Security Actor: how the world views the EU I. (Urbanovská)
  • 13. European Union as a Security Actor: how the world views the EU II. (Urbanovská)
Literature
  • European security in a global context : internal and external dynamics. Edited by Thierry Tardy. London: Routledge, 2009, xx, 236. ISBN 9780415590778. info
  • BALE, Tim. European politics : a comparative introduction. 2nd ed. Rev. and updated. New York, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan, 2008, xvi, 404. ISBN 9780230573789. URL info
  • Europe, America, Bush : transatlantic relations in the twenty-first century. Edited by John Peterson - Mark A. Pollack. 1st pub. London: Routledge, 2003, xii, 158. ISBN 0415309433. info
  • European Union : power and policy-making. Edited by J. J. Richardson. 2nd ed. London: Routledge, 2001, xvi, 388. ISBN 041522165X. info
Teaching methods
The course consists of lectures mixed together with seminars including class discussion. Position papers related to required readings are part of the workload and form a basis for the in-class discussion. Each lecture is accompanied by compulsory reading, the knowledge of which is necessary both for active participation in class discussion and for the written exam. Moreover, students are encouraged to acquire further relevant academic articles, chapters in books etc. when preparing their position papers.
Assessment methods
1) Students are expected to read required readings for each seminar. 2) Students are expected to actively participate in class discussions. 3) Students are required to write short position papers (3000 characters, +/- 10 %) based on required readings for every seminar – in total 11 position papers. Position papers should consist of a critique of the readings, and questions for discussion. Position papers should be inserted into a proper Folder in “Position Papers” in the IS (Information System) no later than 1 p.m. of the day before the seminar for which the position paper is written. 4) Students will take a multiple choice midterm test. The test will consist of 10 questions covering issues from first half of the course. Students will have 10 minutes to complete 10 questions. 5) Students have to pass the final in-class written exam consisting of five questions based on required readings and discussions in class.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2018, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2018/EGO424