BPV_EPSI Economic, Political and Social Identity in the European Union

Faculty of Economics and Administration
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
2/1/0. 6 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
doc. Ing. David Špaček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. Ing. David Špaček, Ph.D.
Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Contact Person: Jana Biskupová
Supplier department: Department of Public Economics – Faculty of Economics and Administration
Prerequisites (in Czech)
(! BPV_APSI Political and social identity ) && (!NOWANY( BPV_APSI Political and social identity ))
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 25 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/25, only registered: 0/25, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/25
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
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
• An understanding of the interaction between national, regional and a European Union identity at the economic, political and socio-cultural levels; • An understanding of various theories and concepts identified as useful in analysing any future construction of an economic, political and social European Union identity, and processes in application of those in analysis of E.U. citizen identity; • Identification of European Union liberal democratic ‘core values’ (democracy, the rule of law, peace and security, economic stability and prosperity, respect for human rights), and the role of those in construction of an E.U. citizen identity; • Identification of, and analysis of, the existing ‘identity’ perspectives of EU citizens through the use and application of a range of Eurobarometer data.
Syllabus
  • LECTURE CONTENT
  • PLEASE NOTE: 75% attendance at lectures (i.e. at least 6) is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment)
  • 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 infroms 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 EU identity
  • - the theory 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 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 on, economic and social movements and practices (including cultural practices) in shaping 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. European Union for citizens to identify with:
  • a) federalism and subsidiarity
  • b) a European Union identity alongside a Europe of economic, politacal and socio-cultural regional identity and diversity?
  • c) Federalis, a ‘Europe of the Regions’, and a European Union identity.
  • 7. EU identity today
  • - the perspective of EU citizens
  • - attitudes to European Union identity in surveys and opinion polls
  • - the relationship between EU institutional identity and EU citizen identity.
  • 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.
Literature
    required literature
  • Continuously updated studying materials prepared by a lecturer.
  • European Economic and Social Committee (2018). Best practices in public policies regarding the European Social Economcy post the conomic crisis. Available at: https://www.eesc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/files/qe-04-18-002-en-n.pdf (selected sections,
  • Cederman, L. (ed.) Constructing Europes Identity: The External Dimension, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
    recommended literature
  • Poole, R. Nation and identity, London, Routledge, 1999.
  • Zeff, E. and Pirro, E. The European Union and the Member States: Cooperation, Coordination, and Compromise, London, Lynne Reinner, 2001.
  • Dunkerley, D. et al Changing Europe: identities, nations and citizens, London, Routledge, 2002.
  • Christiansen, T. Jorgensen, K.E. and Weiner, A. (Editors) The Social Construction of Europe, London, Sage, 2001.
  • Journal of European Public Policy 6:4, 1999 (Special Issue on The Social Construction of Europe).
  • Graham, B. Modern Europe: place, culture and identity, London, Arnold, 1998.
  • Shore, C. Building Europe: the cultural politics of the European Union, London, Routledge, 2000.
  • Fossum, J.E. Identity Politics in the European Union, in Journal of European Integration, Vol.23, Number 4.
  • Nicoll, W. and Salmon, T.C. Understanding the European Union, Harlow, Longman, 2001.
    not specified
  • Other literature and web pages as specified in the Teacher´s information below.
Teaching methods
COURSE STRUCTURE
The course will be taught through a programme of 8 lectures and 1 workshop. All classes will be held at ESF jointly for ESF and FSS students. WORKSHOPS

PLEASE NOTE: 100% attendance at workshops is a requirement to pass this course (see Course Assessment)

Workshops
In the workshop students will be given the opportunity to work collectively in groups discussing possible structures and plans for their assessment essay. In the first part of the workshop students will be offered some direction on their essays. In the case a student is attending an internship abroad, he/she should contact a course guarantor in order to find out about requirements for passing the course (e.g., compensatory work, possibility to pass a similar course during his/her internship).
Assessment methods
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 between 1500 (minimum) and 2000 (maximum) words (between 4 and 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

ESSAYS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO JOHN WILTON BY EMAIL OR THROUGH THE MASARYK UNIVERSITY INFORMATION SYSTEM BY 07.05.13

1. Evaluate whether a European Union ‘citizen’ identity can be produced through ‘social constructivism’.
2. Assess whether the production of a European Union ‘citizen’ identity would be most likely achieved through economic, social or political measures and policies.
3. Identify and evaluate the relationship between the ‘core values’ of the European Union and the construction and development of a European Union ‘citizen’ identity.
Language of instruction
English
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
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