The study of the EU as an international actor has become a key element in European and International Law, European Studies and International Relations. The EU represents the world’s largest trade power and aid donor, has a diplomatic service larger than that of most states, and has launched more than 20 civil-military operations. It has presented itself as a normative, global actor, and its emergence as a legal entity that is neither a state nor a classic international organization has both puzzled and fascinated legal scholars and political scientists alike. We represent a consortium consisting of the Global Governance Programme of the European University Institute in Florence, the Leuven Centre for Global Governance Studies and the Chair for European and International Economic Law at the University of Passau. We have joined forces guided by the vision of providing cutting-edge expertise on the many facets of this fast-evolving topic to the greatest number of students.
What will I learn?
At the end of the course you will …
- be able to identify and understand the main challenges of the EU and its Member States in the world today, and how they affect us personally
- understand the means which the EU has at its disposal to tackle these challenges, and learn ways to critically evaluate its performance.
- understand and be able to apply the key legal principles and political realities governing EU external relations, its relationship with its Member States and citizens, and the outside world.
- situate the EU as an international actor into the main theoretical approaches to International Relations, and harness these approaches to analyze current topics in global politics.
What do I have to know?
Basic knowledge in one or more of the following subjects is highly recommended:
- The EU and its institutions / EU politics
- EU / International law
- International relations / politics, foreign policy.
Workload
4 hours per week including readings, watching our videos, discuss with fellow students, complete quizzes.
Do I get a certificate?
Students participating in this course can earn the official Statement of Participation.
Requirements for receiving the Statement of Participation are to watch 80% of the lecture videos as well as complete 80% of the quizzes.
