Perspectives on European Public Affairs

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This 8-week module lays the foundation for further study during the course of the EPA Masters Programme. In order to be able to understand today’s problems that can occur in a complex, globalized, international environment, one needs to have a solid understanding of the diverging economic, legal and administrative traditions of the countries cooperating in the European Union. This module concentrates on the political and legal organization of European countries. The module starts with the context in which European integration takes place and concentrates on key theories relevant for understanding integration. As such this course is the foundation for the courses offered in the Masters Programme at a later point in the curriculum: EPA4001 Lobbying in the EU, EPA4003 Implementation and Evaluation of EU Policy.

The course provides an introduction to the key EU and national institutions, actors and stages in the decision-making process. With tools from policy analysis, agenda setting and key theories of European integration, the course provides an introduction to the complex decisionmaking process in Europe. A highlight of the course is the intensive negotiation workshop that takes place over three weeks. Within the thesis-writing trajectory, the course provides an introduction to the following elements that are covered in more detail in the Integrated Skills Track:

(1) Formulating a feasible and insightful research question,
(2) based on the overarching research question to be answered, choosing an appropriate research design and data strategy,
(3) employing empirical methods competently and communicating the research findings clearly and in a compelling manner. While the course primarily provides an introduction the political and legal and dimension of European integration as well as policy analysis and integration theory, it nevertheless also touches begins with the effort to teach students evidence based argumentation which will be relevant both in academic as wells professional settings.