4.0

credits

Average Course Rating

This course represents an introduction to the historical development of the European Community and the European Union. That said, the perspective I adopt is grounded more solidly in political science rather than history. My argument is that European integration can be explained as a function of three types of variables: Ideas, events, and “unintended consequences”. The analytic claim is that European integration started and is perpetuated to shore up the weaknesses of individual nation-states and of the national state system. In other words, the course is grounded on a set of very specific (and very controversial) arguments and interpretations. These must be examined carefully, critically, comprehensively. They must be challenged. And, if necessary, they must be refuted. The material surveyed in the course should help you do all those things and more.