Politics of European Cooperation

The theory and practices of European integration

Overview

The European Union is arguably a) the most successful peace initiative in European history, b) the most developed international organization ever, and c) a crucial engine of economic growth and development in Europe. At the same time, it also often appears to be composed of individual countries more interested in their own path than in working with their fellow member states (as the cartoon on the left suggests), and more interested in looking inward than in helping other countries that are not (yet) member states (as the cartoon on the right indicates).

So: how “united” is the European Union really? And what does its presence mean for neighbouring countries that are not member states? And, taking a step back, how can we best go about answering these questions? The urgency of doing so is all the greater with Ukraine under attack from Russia, but also with voters and politicians in the United Kingdom, which recently withdrew from the EU increasingly lamenting what they lost in doing so and considering attempting to rejoin. For all that member states like to complain about the many things wrong with the EU, membership does have its privileges.

This course provides an overview of the history, the political institutions, the decision-making processes and people’s views of the European Union. The emphasis throughout will be on understanding why member states, alone or together, made particular choices about further (or lesser) integration. By the end of the course, you will have a thorough knowledge of the European Union, as well as an understanding of how our theories of comparative and international politics help explain policy choices and developments in the EU. In addition, you’ll be able to make an informed judgment about whether “ever closer union” (as called for in the EU’s foundational texts) is a good or bad idea, as well as whether it is a realistic aspiration.

Syllabus

I most recently offered this course in the Fall of 2024. The syllabus can be downloaded by clicking here.