VPLb1155 European Union Public Policy

Faculty of Social Studies
Autumn 2024
Extent and Intensity
1/1/0. 5 credit(s). Type of Completion: zk (examination).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
John Frederick Wilton, B.A. (Hons), M. Soc Sc, Ph.D.
Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Social Policy and Social Work – Faculty of Social Studies
Timetable
Thu 24. 10. 16:00–19:40 U34, Thu 31. 10. 16:00–19:40 U34, Thu 7. 11. 16:00–19:40 U34, Thu 14. 11. 16:00–19:40 U34, Thu 21. 11. 16:00–19:40 U34
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: 24/25, 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
The students will understand: - the principles underpinning E.U. public policy - the process of EU public policy making in four perspectives: agenda setting, policy formulation, policy decision-making and policy implementation. The students will learn about different models of analysis at different levels within the EU and at different stages of the policy process. They will learn how to use some of the selected approaches of the policy analysis.
Learning outcomes
identifying and explaining the different theoretical models of the political process; write an essay on the factors of public policy integration in the EU.
Syllabus
  • Lecture 1. The basis of, and principles underpinning, E.U. public policy: harmonisation, mutual recognition and convergence? Lecture 2. Agenda-setting: role and purpose, fragmentation and the absence of effective policy co-ordination Lecture 3. Policy formulation: the policy communities and policy networks model, policymaking uncertainty, expertise and epistemic communities, multiple policymaking ‘venues’ Lecture 4. Policy decision-making: institutional analysis Lecture 5. Policy implementation: implementation as a complex and multifaceted process, inter-organisational behaviour and implementation analysis, characterising implementation in the E.U. Workshop 1 Lecture 6. a) A case study of the E.U. policy process: Welfare b) The ‘Europeanisation’ of public policy
Literature
    required literature
  • Resisting marginalization : unemployment experience and social policy in the European Union. Edited by Duncan Gallie. New York: Oxford University Press, 2004, xi, 291. ISBN 0199271852. info
    recommended literature
  • Nugent, N. The Government and Politics of the European Union, Basingstoke, Palgrave Macmillan, 2005.
  • Hantrais, L. Social Policy in the EU, Basingstoke, Macmillan, 2000 (second edition) or 2007 (third edition).
  • Geyer, R. Exploring European Social Policy, Cambridge, Polity Press, 2000
  • Richardson, J. European Union. Power and policy-making (Third edition), Oxford, Routledge, 2006.
  • HIX, Simon. The political system of the European Union. 2nd ed. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2005, xxii, 490. ISBN 033396182X. URL info
  • Environmental policy in Europe : the Europeanization of national environmental policy. Edited by Andrew Jordan - Duncan Liefferink. New York: Routledge, 2004, xix, 251. ISBN 041540679X. URL info
  • The politics of europeanization. Edited by Kevin Featherstone - Claudio M. Radaelli. 1st pub. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2003, xii, 351. ISBN 0199252092. info
  • KLEINMAN, Mark. A european welfare state? :European union social policy in context. 1st pub. Basingstoke: Palgrave, 2002, ix, 246 s. ISBN 0-333-69892-4. info
  • MCCORMICK, John. Understanding the European Union : a concise introduction. 2. ed. New York: Palgrave, 2002, xvi, 237 s. ISBN 0-333-94868-8. info
  • HANTRAIS, Linda. Social policy in the European union. 2nd ed. Basingstoke: Macmillan, 2000, xiv, 273 s. ISBN 0-333-92008-2. info
  • ROSAMOND, Ben. Theories of European integration. 1. ed. Houndmills: Palgrave, 2000, xiii, 323. ISBN 0-333-64716-5. info
  • Policy-making in the European union. Edited by William Wallace - Helen S. Wallace. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1996, xxvii, 509. ISBN 0198781296. info
Teaching methods
lectures, class discussion, reading
Assessment methods
Essay assessment. Essay address answers to following questions: (i) What are the benefits and problems that arise from the processes of agenda-setting and policy implementation at the beginning and end of the European Union public policy cycle? (ii) Can European Union public policy making be described as ‘Europeanised’? (iii) Identify benefits and problems within the E.U. public policy process in one public policy area in respect of the principles of harmonisation, mutual recognition and convergence.
Language of instruction
English
Further Comments
Study Materials
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
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