Policy Domains
Full course description
In order to understand how the EU functions, it is essential to know how the policy process works. In this course we depart where the courses EU Politics and EU Law I ended, and we provide insight into both theoretical and practical aspects of policy-making in the EU. As decision-making procedures and the actors involved vary highly in the different policy domains regulated at European level, it is necessary to study the various policy domains in details in order to understand the complexity of EU policy-making. Therefore, students conduct their own policy analysis via an in-depth case study of a particular legal instrument in a by the students selected policy domain. Via this particular case, students will analyse how policy is made in the EU, what kinds of decision are taken and by whom, and how decisions differ according to policy domain. Furthermore they will become familiar with giving presentations and writing papers.
Course objectives
In the course Policy Domains: Analysing the European policy process we aim to give students an insight into both theoretical and practical aspects of policy-making within the EU. At the end of the course the students should be familiar not only with a certain policy domain and a decision falling into that policy domain, but should also be able to put their observations within a wider context of studying public policy in general and analysing EU policy-making in particular. At the end of this course students should be able to “read” and analyse different European legal instruments. Students should also be able to link the practical aspects of their research on policy domains to more theoretical aspects.
Recommended reading
Versluis, E., Van Keulen, M. & Stephenson, P. (2011). Analyzing the European Union policy process. Basingstoke: Palgrave.