EVSn5069 Economic, Political and Social Identity in the European Union

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
Teacher(s)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer), Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, Ph.D. (deputy)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Petra Kuchyňková, 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)
! EVS143 Econ.,Pol.,Soc. Ident. in EU && !NOW( EVS143 Econ.,Pol.,Soc. Ident. in EU ) && ! EVSb2043 Econ.,Pol.,Soc. Ident. in EU && !NOW( EVSb2043 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 5 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/5, only registered: 0/5
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 6 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
AIMS 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. The first part of the course will outline and examine various 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 these will be assessed within 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. OBJECTIVES 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.
Learning outcomes
Student will be able to explain various concepts of identity
Student will be able to apply various concepts of identity
Syllabus
  • COURSE STRUCTURE The course will be taught through a programme of 8 lectures and 4 workshops (2 workshops for each group of students). All lectures will be given at ESF jointly for ESF and FSS students. Students will be divided into two groups, one group for each Faculty (ESF and FSS) for the workshops. Workshops for ESF students will be held at ESF and for FSS students at FSS. LECTURE CONTENT PLEASE NOTE: 75% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 3) The powerpoint presentations for each lecture will be placed on the Masaryk University Information System prior to each lecture 1. Identity as a concept: the ‘narrative of identity’ in the economic, socio-cultural and political sphere. - the theoretical concept of ‘identity’ - the symbols and processes that produce and contribute to identity - the development of the identity of the European Union as an institution. 2. The development of the identity of the European Union - the founding principles and historical development of the European Union - how the identity of the European Union has developed and informs its interests and its actions in respect of its citizens - European Union integration and expansion: federalism, functionalism and neo-functionalism 3. Social Constructivism, Essentialism and an EU identity. - the theories of social constructivism and essentialism - identity constituted by the institutionalized norms, values and ideas of the economic, political and social environment of the European Union 4. New Institutionalism, Behaviouralism, and an EU identity. - The theories of New Institutionalism and Behaviouralism - the capacity of cultural and organizational practices within EU institutions to mould the preferences, interests and identities of EU citizens - the capacity of, and impact of, economic and social movements and practices (including cultural practices) in shaping an EU identity - 5. Identity and European Union ‘core values’ - democracy - the rule of law - peace and security - economic stability and prosperity - respect for human rights and minority rights - diversity and tolerance 6. A European Union for citizens to identify with: a) federalism and subsidiarity b) a European Union identity alongside a Europe of economic, political and socio-cultural regional identity and diversity? c) Federalism, a ‘Europe of the Regions’, and a European Union identity 7. EU identity today - the perspective of EU citizens. - attitudes to a European Union identity in surveys and opinion polls 8. A European Union identity in the future? - constructed through a narrative of the economic, political and socio-cultural development of the European Union - the interaction of multi-level economic, socio-cultural and political development WORKSHOPS PLEASE NOTE: 100% attendance at workshops is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment on page 3) Students from each Faculty (ESF and FSS) will be divided into two groups. Each group will have two workshops. Workshops In the workshops students will be required to work collectively in groups in the first part of the session on questions relating to particular theories and issues within the course and then present their collective findings within the workshop in the second part of the session. Workshop 1 Questions: a) An E.U. ‘citizen identity’ is possible. An EU ‘citizen identity’ is a good thing (and why?). b) An EU ‘citizen identity’ is not possible. An EU ‘citizen identity’ is not a good thing (and why not?) Workshop 2 In the first part of this workshop some direction will be offered in respect of the assessment essay, and then in the second part of the workshop students will be divided into groups for discussion and group feedback on each essay question. COURSE ASSESSMENT 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 a maximum of 2000 words (6 sides of A4 paper) in answer to ONE of the questions shown below. Essays should be properly and fully referenced, and include a full bibliography. They should be word-processed or typed. PLEASE NOTE: Essays that are more than 10 per cent above or below the word limit will be penalised through the deduction of marks, as will essays that are not properly or fully referenced or do not include a full bibliography ESSAYS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO JOHN WILTON BY EMAIL TO jitaly25@hotmail.com OR THROUGH THE MASARYK UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM BY 09.05.2016 1. Is economic, social or political E.U. citizen identity most achievable, or a mixture of all three? 2. How could a European Union ‘citizen’ identity be produced? 3. What is the relationship between the ‘core values’ of the European Union and the construction and development of a European Union ‘citizen’ identity? LITERATURE AND OTHER INFORMATION SOURCES PLEASE NOTE: a) The powerpoint presentations for each lecture will be placed on the Masaryk University Information System. These will include any further up to date sources identified as useful by myself throughout the course. b) Information Packs relating to particular lectures on the course have been placed in the ESF library (they are placed with the librarians at the issue desk – just ask for the packs/box for Professor John Wilton). They contain paper copies of some of the powerpoint presentations used in the lectures, as well as copies of relevant selected book chapters and/or articles relating to each lecture topic. Other more recent sources (identified in the FSS library) may be added to the powerpoint presentations for each lecture that will be placed on the University Information System prior to each lecture. c) Most of the journal articles shown below, and many of the books, are held in the FSS library. The less recent (i.e. older) journal articles are held in the FSS library in the downstairs (archive) section – down the stairs to the left of the issue desk as you face it upon entering the library. Books Bruter, M. Citizens of Europe? The Emergence of a Mass European Identity, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2005. Cederman, L. (ed.) Constructing Europe’s Identity: The External Dimension, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001 Chebel D’Appollonia, A. ‘European Nationalism and European Union’, in Pagden, A. (ed.) The Idea of Europe: from antiquity to the European Union, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2002.. Christiansen, T. Jorgensen, K.E. and Weiner, A. (Editors) The Social Construction of Europe, London, Sage, 2001. Dunkerley, D. et al Changing Europe: identities, nations and citizens, London, Routledge, 2002. Graham, B. Modern Europe: place, culture and identity, London, Arnold, 1998. Herrmann, R. Risse, T. and Brewer, M. (eds.) Transnational Identities, Oxford, Rowman and Littlefield, 2004. 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. Nicoll, W. and Salmon, T.C. Understanding the European Union, Harlow, Longman, 2001. Poole, R. Nation and identity, London, Routledge, 1999. Robyn, R. The changing face of European identity, London, Routledge, 2005. Van Ham, P. European integration and the post-modern condition, London, Routledge, 2001. Shore, C. Building Europe: the cultural politics of the European Union, London, Routledge, 2000. Zeff, E. and Pirro, E. The European Union and the Member States: Cooperation, Coordination, and Compromise, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001. Journal Articles Caporaso, J.A. and Kim, M. (2009) ‘The dual nature of European identity: subjective awareness and coherence’, in Journal of European Public Policy, Vol.16, No. 1, 2009, pp. 19-42. Fossum, J.E. (2001) ‘Identity Politics in the European Union’, in Journal of European Integration, Vol.23, Number 4, pp.401-23 Garry, J. and Tilley, J. (2009) ‘The Macroeconomic Factors Conditioning the Impact of Identity on Attitudes Towards the EU’, in European Union Politics, Vol.10, No.3, pp.361-380. Journal of European Public Policy 6:4, 1999 (Special Issue on ‘The Social Construction of Europe’) Kostakopoulou, D. (2008) ‘The evolution of European Union citizenship’, in European Political Science, vol. 7, no.3. Sept. 2008, pp.285-295. Liebich, A. (2008) ‘How Different is The ‘New Europe’?’, in CEU Political Science Journal, Vol.3, Issue 3, Sept. 2008, pp.269-292. Mayer, F.and Palmowski, J. (2004) “European Identities and the EU – The Ties that Bind the Peoples of Europe”, Journal of Common Market Studies, vol.42, no.3, pp.573-98. Quintelier, E. and Dejaeghere, Y. (2008) ‘Does European Citizenship Increase Tolerance in Young People?’, in European Union Politics, Vol.9, no.3, Sept. 2008, pp.339-362. Internet Sites http://www.cec.org.UK - for information - in English - on European Union institutions, policies and programmes, and a wide range of links to European Union related Websites, including EUROPA and European Union Documentation and Information Centres containing on-screen copies of the original Treaties - of Rome, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Single European Act, etc. - with comprehensive guides. http://www.cunliffe.demon.co.uk/Politics/eu.html - for on-screen copies of the Treaties - of Rome, Maastricht, Amsterdam, Single European Act, etc. - for details of the institutions and main legislative bodies of the European Union, current affairs, including monetary union, and details of Parliamentary groupings in the European Parliament. http://www.ecsa.org - The European Communities Studies Association is one of the largest and most active academic organisations for studying the EU and maintains an excellent website with links to a wide variety of other sites. http://europa.eu.int - this is the central site for policy documentation, information on institutions, up-to-date developments, enlargement information, and links to other sites. It also contains the Eurobarometer surveys on public opinion in the ‘old’ Member states, and in the new Member states. http://www.europarl.eu.int - for information on the European Parliament http://www.euractiv.com/en/future-eu/european-values-identity/article-154441 http://www.ex.ac.uk/~pcovery/lib/eurostudies.html - site of the European Union documentation centre at University of Exeter, United Kingdom - has extensive sources of information on the European Union, all in English, and links to Official Web servers of the European Union - it also has links to EUROTEXTS and the historical document/material archives centre at the University of Berkeley in the United States, which has copies of much of the earlier European Community documentation. http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/GSSI/eu.html - this is an excellent site, entitled European Union Internet Resources, contains an impressive collection of links to ‘EU servers in institutions’, ‘EU documents on the web’ and ‘Servers of interest in or from EU countries’. Fuchs, D. and Schlenker, A. “European Identity and the Legitimacy of the EU” (Draft Paper), on line at www.eu-consent.net/library/brx061012/Klingermann_Lodz0603.pdf Maurits van der Veen, A. Determinants of European Identity, University of Pennsylvania, 19 March 2002, on line at http://www.isanet.org/noarchive/vanderveen.html Schwimmer, W. European Identity: is there more than one Europe, on line at http://www.coe.int/T/E/Com/Files/Themes/Identity/Col3_SG%20-%20RZ_One%20Europe.asp Professor John Wilton (January 2016)
Literature
    required literature
  • Garry, J. and Tilley, J. (2009) ‘The Macroeconomic Factors Conditioning the Impact of Identity on Attitudes Towards the EU’, in European Union Politics, Vol.10, No.3, pp.361-380.
  • Robyn, R. The changing face of European identity, London, Routledge, 2005.
  • Caporaso, J.A. and Kim, M. (2009) ‘The dual nature of European identity: subjective awareness and coherence’, in Journal of European Public Policy, Vol.16, No. 1, 2009, pp. 19-42.
  • BRUTER, Michael. Citizens of Europe? : the emergence of a mass European identity. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, xvi, 221. ISBN 1403932395. info
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 a maximum of 2000 words (6 sides of A4 paper) in answer to ONE of the questions shown below. Essays should be properly and fully referenced, and include a full bibliography. They should be word-processed or typed. PLEASE NOTE: Essays that are more than 10 per cent above or below the word limit will be penalised through the deduction of marks, as will essays that are not properly or fully referenced or do not include a full bibliography ESSAYS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO JOHN WILTON BY EMAIL TO jitaly25@hotmail.com OR THROUGH THE MASARYK UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM BY 09.05.2016 1. Is economic, social or political E.U. citizen identity most achievable, or a mixture of all three? 2. How could a European Union ‘citizen’ identity be produced? 3. What is the relationship between the ‘core values’ of the European Union and the construction
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught only once.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2023.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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