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2021/2022

European Community Policies

Code: 101107 ECTS Credits: 6
Degree Type Year Semester
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 3 2
2500259 Political Science and Public Management OT 4 0
2503778 International Relations OB 3 2
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 3 2
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 4 0
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 4 1
2504216 Contemporary History, Politics and Economics OT 4 2
The proposed teaching and assessment methodology that appear in the guide may be subject to changes as a result of the restrictions to face-to-face class attendance imposed by the health authorities.

Contact

Name:
Ana Mar Fernández Pasarín
Email:
Ana.Fernandez.Pasarin@uab.cat

Use of Languages

Principal working language:
english (eng)
Some groups entirely in English:
Yes
Some groups entirely in Catalan:
No
Some groups entirely in Spanish:
No

Prerequisites

A prior knowledge of the process of European integration and, in particular, of the European institutional system, will be positively valued. Active and passive knowledge of the English language is required.

Objectives and Contextualisation

The course aims to provide students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills needed to understand the functioning of the EU's system of government, the development of the European public policies and the impact that they produce in the Member States.

Competences

    Political Science and Public Management
  • Analysing public policies, both in their elaboration and implementation processes.
  • Applying the discipline's main theories and different fields to real practical and professional problems.
  • Applying the knowledge of the Public Administrations on its various levels to practical and professional concrete cases.
  • Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  • Demonstrating the understanding of intergovernmental relationships and identifying the position of Public Administrations in the political system.
  • Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  • Distinguishing the discipline's main theories and different fields: conceptual developments, theoretical frameworks and theoretical approaches underlying the discipline's knowledge and different areas and sub-areas, as well as their value for the professional practice through concrete cases.
  • Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  • Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  • Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  • Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  • Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  • Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  • Using different tools for the analysis and explanation of the formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation processes in public policies.
  • Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  • Working autonomously.
  • Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.
    International Relations
  • Analyse the behaviour of international actors, both state and non-state.
  • Analyse the structure and operation of international institutions and organisations (political, economic, military and security, environmental, development and emergency aid) both in the universal and regional spheres, with particular emphasis on the European Union, from either real or simulated cases.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse how the EU and other actors manage the problems posed by the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state in the world.
  2. Analyse the day-to-day function of the EU and the role of different actors in drawing up policies.
  3. Analyse the role of different actors in the formulation of political policies.
  4. Analysing public policies, both in their elaboration and implementation processes.
  5. Applying the knowledge of the Public Administrations on its various levels to practical and professional concrete cases.
  6. Arguing from different theoretical perspectives.
  7. Critically analysing the configuration process of the public agenda.
  8. Demonstrating the understanding of intergovernmental relationships and identifying the position of Public Administrations in the political system.
  9. Describing and understanding the functioning of the Public Administration on a state, sub-state and supranational level.
  10. Distinguishing the phases of public politics: formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation.
  11. Evaluate the impact of different actors and the rules of operation in the formulation of EU policies.
  12. For real and simulated case studies analyse the implementation of community and intergovernmental policies in the EU and their posterior application.
  13. Identifying sources of data and conducting bibliographic and documentary searches.
  14. Interpreting and applying English texts in an academic way.
  15. Managing the available time in order to accomplish the established objectives and fulfil the intended task.
  16. Producing and planning researches or analytical reports.
  17. Properly explaining and describing main theoretical approaches of the analysis of political sciences: cycle of politics, actor-network, institutional approaches, rational choice theory.
  18. Showing a good capacity for transmitting information, distinguishing key messages for their different recipients.
  19. Suggesting and explaining a case study of a concrete public policy.
  20. Synthesizing and critically analysing information.
  21. Use techniques of analysis for the functioning of universal institutions, in particular those of the European Union, in its day-to-day operations and its task of promoting aid for development and the promotion of democracy and the rule-of-law state.
  22. Using different tools for the analysis and explanation of the formulation, decision, implementation and evaluation processes in public policies.
  23. Using the main information and documentation techniques (ICT) as an essential tool for the analysis.
  24. Working autonomously.
  25. Working in teams and networking, particularly in interdisciplinary conditions.

Content

 
The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.
 
 
Topic 1. Introduction (I): The EU as a public policy provider: positive integration vs. negative integration
 
Topic 2. Introduction (II): European policies: elaboration, decision and implementation
 
Topic 3. European policies: a typology
 
Topic 4. Internal market
 
Topic 5. The competition policy
 
Topic 6. The policy of economic and social cohesion
 
Topic 7. Agricultural and rural development policy
 
Topic 8. The commercial policy
 
Topic 9. The food security policy
  
Topic 10: European policy in the context of climate change. Environment and energy
 
Topic 11. Economic governance and monetary policy.
Topic 12. The Area of Freedom, Security and Justice

Methodology

The proposed teaching methodology and evaluation activities may undergo some modifications depending on the health authorities' attendance restrictions.
 
In principle, this course combines:
 
1) Guided activities:
 
Theoretical classes with contradictory debates on different European news topics and discussion seminars on compulsory readings.
 
2) Supervised activities:
 
Individual tutorials or by group 
 
3) Autonomous activities:
Writing of a final paper

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Activities

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures and seminars 55 2.2 7, 10, 16, 13, 14, 20, 24, 22
Type: Supervised      
Individual and collective tutorial hours 15 0.6 5, 13, 14, 19, 20, 25, 22
Type: Autonomous      
Final paper 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 19

Assessment

The evaluation is based on:
 
1. Test about compulsory readings: 10%
 
2. Individual or group work of max 3 students on one of the topics of the subject: 30%
 
3. Oral presentation: 20%
 
4. Written evidence: 40%
 
 
Plagiarism detection will imply the grade of suspension in the course.
 
Students will be entitled to the revaluation of the subject. They should present a minimum of activities that equals two-thirds of the total grading.
 
In accordance with article 117.2 of the Academic Regulations of the UAB, the evaluation of repeating students may consist of a single proof of synthesis. The repeat students who wish to take up this possibility will need to contact the faculty at the beginning of the course.
 

Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Assessment on compulsory readings 10% 10 0.4 7, 4, 6, 9, 10, 16, 15, 14, 18, 19, 20, 24, 25, 23
Exam 40% 0 0 17, 7, 4, 9, 10
Oral presentation 20% 10 0.4 17, 4, 12, 19, 24
written exercise 30% 40 1.6 1, 2, 3, 12, 5, 8, 9, 10, 13, 19, 20, 22, 21, 11

Bibliography

At the beginning of the course, a list with compulsory readings will be uploaded on the campus virtual.

Remedial readings:

BOMBERG, E., J. PETERSON and A. STUBB (eds) (2008), The European Union: How Does it Work?, (Oxford:Oxford University Press).

BULMER, S. et al. (2021) The Politics in European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press), fifth ed. Also Available in Ebook.

BULMER, S. and LEQUESNE, Ch. (2020), The Member States of the EU (Oxford: Oxford University Press), 3rd ed.

HIX,S. and B. HOYLAND (2012), The Political System of the European Union (London: Palgrave Macmillan).

HEINELT, H. and MÜNCH, S. (2018) Handbook of European Policies, (Cheltenham: Edward Elgar)

NUGENT, N. (2010), The Government and Politics of the European Union, (London:Palgrave Macmillan)

PETERSON, J. & SHACKLETON, M. (2006) The Institutions of the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

VAN MIDDELAAR, L. (2014) The passage to Europe: How a Continent became a Union (Yale: Yale University Press)

WALLACE, H., M. POLLACK and A. YOUNG (2010) Policy-making in the European Union (Oxford: Oxford University Press).

 

 Journals:

 

Journal of European Integration

Journal of Common Market Studies

Journal of European Public Policy

West European Politics

Public Administration

 

 

Software

N/A