Description
International organizations play a crucial role in shaping, regulating and managing the economic and political frameworks in which firms as well as countries operate. Traditional international relations theories had considered the nation state as the epicenter of an anarchic international system. In contrast to this conception, since the end of WWII the role of international organizations has been steadily growing in economic and political governance. This course will look at the international organizations specific to the process of European economic integration. Students will develop a theoretical and practical understanding of EU institutions and the OECD with a focus on economic problems they seek to address.
Type Subject
Optativa
Semester
Second
Credits
5.00
Previous Knowledge
Objectives

This course aims to assist students in:
• Understanding the fundamental dynamics that guides European integration.
• Identifying and assessing the responsibilities and powers of decision-making institutions of the EU.
o Understanding the interactions between the decision-making institutions of the European Union.
• Understanding the complexity of the monetary policy in the Eurozone.
o Identifying the root causes of the recession in the Eurozone.
• Developing an awareness of the regional economic disparities in Europe and understand their consequences.
o Assessing the efficacy of the policy responses to these disparities.
• Understanding tasks and historical development of the role of OECD.
o Assessing OECD’s digital agenda.

Contents

Topic 1
Introduction to Governance and International Organizations
Basic concepts and theories of international relations, and the study of international institutions.

Topic 2
History of European Integration I
History of European integration from the aftermath of WW2 to ECSC

Topic 3
History of European Integration II
From the ECSC to Single European Act

Topic 4
History of European Integration III
From the Single European Act to Brexit.

Topic 5
EU Spending -1: CAP
Common Agricultural policy of the EU

Topic 6
EU Spending -2: Economic disparities and the EU
Regional Policy of the EU & ESC
Presentation 1: ESC

Topic 7
Institutions of the European Union I
Institutional design of the EU, decision-making institutions

Topic 8
Institutions of the European Union: Commission
In detail study of the European Commission
Presentation 2: Commission
Presentation 3: Commission’s role in the research and innovation policy

Topic 9
Institutions of the European Union: European Parliament
In detail study of the European Parliament
Presentation 4: European Parliament
Presentation 5: EP’s role in the research and innovation policy. Focus on ITRE committee

Topic 10
Institutions of the European Union: The Council
In detail study of the council
Presentation 6: The Council - European Council
Presentation 7: The Council policies: Digital Single Market, Data Protection Reform, Geo-blocking, Cybersecurity

Topic 11
Monetary Policy in the Eurozone - I
History of the Euro, European Central Bank,
Presentation 8: ECB

Topic 12
Monetary Policy in the Eurozone - II
Recession in the Eurozone
Presentation 9: ECB policies facing the recession: Austerity vs. Quantitative easing.

Topic 13
EU
Ongoing issues of the EU: Reflecting on the politics, economy & society.

Topic 14
OECD
History, structure, tasks of the OECD. OPSI
Presentation 10: OECD

European Study Tour, one full week
Main visits and talks

Paris: OECD;
Frankfurt: ECB and Bundesbank
Brussels; European parliament, European Commission, the Council, ESC and European think tanks.

Methodology

Course will have three components:
First component will be the lectures based on assigned readings. Students are expected to read the assigned material in a timely fashion and participate actively in the class discussions.
Secondly, students will form groups to focus on one international organization and will conduct a team research a. to understand how their assigned institution works b. to critically reflect on the problems that the institution faces and on how it deals with them. They will present their findings on two separate occasions
Finally, students will be able to put their theoretical knowledge in practice during the study tour to the institutions that they have learned about.

Evaluation

Participation 15%
Exam 15%
Comportment and engagement during the study tour 30%
1st Presentation 25%
2nd Presentation 15%

Evaluation Criteria
Basic Bibliography

Lectures will be based on selections from:
Bache, Ian et al. Politics in the European Union, 3rd Edition. Oxford: Oxford UP., 2011
McCormick, John. Understanding the European Union, London: Palgrave, 1999.
Wallace, Helen, William Wallace, and Mark Pollack. Policy-Making in the European Union, 6th edition. Oxford: Oxford UP., 2010.

Additional Material