2018-2019 / SPOL0961-1

European construction history

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

 Bachelor in political sciences : general3 crédits 
 Extra courses intended for exchange students (Erasmus, ...)3 crédits 
 Bachelor in human and social sciences3 crédits 
 Master in multilingual communication (120 ECTS)5 crédits 

Lecturer

Geoffrey Grandjean

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the second semester

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The aim of the course is to present the historical, philosophical, political, legal and economic factors at the heart of the European integration process.
Subsequently, the course begins by explaining the idea of Europe through history, by examining the role this idea played at the beginning of the building of Europe.
Next, the course presents the different stages in the building of Europe by focusing on the role played by the states within the framework of European integration. The importance of political figures (de Gaulle, Kohl, Mitterrand, Thatcher, etc.) and "couples" (e.g. France and Germany) is also taken into account. For this purpose, numerous written sources (reports, speeches, agreements, decisions, etc.) will be used. Analysing the situation from this angle will help to define the importance of national political contexts in the European construction process.
Finally, European integration theories will be gradually presented in order to underline the multidimensional process involved in the building of Europe (functionalism, intergovernmentalism, federalism, institutionalism, constructivism and multi-level governance).

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

By the end of the course, students should be able to:
- identify the different factors at the basis of the building of Europe; - explain the different stages of the building of Europe by integrating the position of the states and the role of political figures; - analyse the written sources (reports, speeches, agreements, decisions) marking the building of Europe.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

No prerequisites.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course consists of two learning activities.
First of all, lectures. They provide factual data on the building of Europe and contextualise the various stages in this process.
Secondly, students are asked to read written sources which will then be critically analysed as a group during lessons.

Mode of delivery (face-to-face ; distance-learning)

Students are obliged to attend classes. They will be asked questions during the lessons on the written sources analysed.

Recommended or required readings

Compulsory reading:
Grandjean Geoffrey, Histoire politique de la construction européenne, Liège, Presses Universitaires de Liège, 2018-2019, disponible à l'adresse suivante : http://hdl.handle.net/2268/227232. 

Assessment methods and criteria

There are two parts to the assessment for this course.
Firstly, continuous assessment relating to the students' analysis of the written sources studied in class. The assessment criteria are: 1) identification of the authors of the documents, 2) explanation of the contents of the documents and 3) the links between the documents and the political history of the building of Europe.
Secondly, a written exam consisting of a multiple choice questionnaire.

Work placement(s)

Organizational remarks

This course is held every year.

Contacts

Pr. Dr Geoffrey Grandjean Chargé de cours
Faculté de Droit, de Science politique et de Criminologie Place des orateurs, 3 4000 Liège Boîte 11 Bureau 2.17 Tel. : +32 (0)4/366.96.60 Courriel : Geoffrey.Grandjean@uliege.be