Advanced studies in political science, European policy

Duration

30h Th

Number of credits

Lecturer

Quentin Michel

Substitute(s)

Aikaterini Lefka

Language(s) of instruction

French language

Organisation and examination

Teaching in the first semester, review in January

Schedule

Schedule online

Units courses prerequisite and corequisite

Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program

Learning unit contents

The objective of the course is to explore the definitions of the "European Union Values" cited in the actually valid treaties, their various (and sometimes conflictual and problematic) interpretations since the origins of the European cultures till our times, and their relations with "the Citizen's Well-being", from a theoretical and a practical point of view.

 

The constitutive text of the European Union exposes the essential reasons and objectives of its existence:

"The Union's aim is to promote peace, its values and the well-being of its peoples."

 (Treaty of Lisbon on European Union (23 July 2007), article I-2; in the actual Consolidated Version (2024) article I-3. 1).

 

It defines also the European Union's values:

"The Union is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. These values are common to the Member States in a society in which pluralism, non-discrimination, tolerance, justice, solidarity and equality between women and men prevail." (TEU, article I-1a; in the actual Consolidated Version, article I-2).

 

One may say that the principles mentioned in these passages define largely, in certain ways, the values considered the most important by the European Union's peoples. However, there are also other values that are advanced by some thinkers as being inherent part of the "European culture", and many of the cited values are also common to other cultures.

 

Therefore, first some clarifications should be made about the definition of a "value", as well as the (progressive) choice of these specific notions by the citizens for the construction of the EU and its implications.

 

All these values not only do they have a long history, but can also be presently interpreted in various ways, as indeed they already have, creating questions about the "European identity" and what could be called the "European model of life", private and public, about the definition of common policies and the harmonisation between the European and the national legislations, about on many aspects of our everyday life, about the integration of new state-members, as well as the eventual sanctions or even the exclusion of actual members. These elements will be also presented and discussed in the course.

 

The coherence between the theoretical presentation of these principles and their application in the EU's policies and practices constitutes another delicate subject to be examined.

 

It isn't evident either, which is the precise relation of the values with the citizen's well-being, even if they are both cited as main objectives of the EU. Besides, the idea of "well-being" (or eu zen, or eudaimonia) as an aim of a political community (and even a possible finality of a human being) is also another extremely complex concept, with variable content attributed to it, dating from the Antiquity, to be studied in the course.

 

In conclusion, it is expected to arrive at a better clarification and critical discussion of the different aspects of the European Union Values and the Citizens' Well-being, as well as the relations among them, considering that they constitute fundamental notions for the EU citizen's identity and the definition of the EU's aims and functioning - crucial subjects for our common political life and our future.

Learning outcomes of the learning unit

Knowledge:

 

The students will acquire a more profound comprehension of notions that are fundamental for the construction and function of the EU :

• the "European Union Values";
• the "Citizen's Well-being".

• the multiple definitions and interpretations of these notions, from the Antiquity to our times;
• the different questions and problems raised by these subjects;
• their consequences, theoretical and practical;
• the various relations between them;
• their complex connections with other crucial themes, as are : the EU and the citizen's identity; the EU objectives; the integration of new member states in the EU and the eventual sanctions of member states; the function of the EU institutions; the definition of EU policies...
• the critical reflection and discussion on these notions in view of the future perspectives of the EU.

• understand a plurality of aspects and points of view on a subject;
• make a precise comparative synthesis of them;
• cultivate their critical thought ;
• use rational arguments;
• present their personal ideas in a clear and structured way;
• develop their creativity;
• apply a spirit of cooperation;
• participate in a respectful and constructive dialogue, either as individuals or as members of groups supporting different ideas, in a debate exercise.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

The knowledge of the history and of the cultures of Europe, as well as of the construction, the treaties, the institutions, the policies of the European Union, would facilitate the comprehension of the course, but it is not compulsory.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

This course follows a multiple approach of the subject, using differentiated methodology.

 

The presentation of its main points by the professor is an original synthesis of different aspects:

 

• It is interdisciplinary: the analysis on such subjects couldn't be possible without the consideration of historical, philosophical, political, legal, social, economic and cultural elements.
• It takes under consideration various kinds of data of international sources: legal texts, philosophical, political, social, theories, historical and cultural elements, surveys...
• It adopts a diachronic perspective, from the origins of the European cultures to our times.
• It seeks to attach theory to practice, at an individual, intersubjective, social, political (national, European, international) level.

Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)

Face-to-face course


Further information:

The course will be delivered in situ.

Course materials and recommended or required readings

Further information:

The professor will distribute her notes to the students, with a selective bibliography, recommended for more information.

Exam(s) in session

Any session

- In-person

written exam ( open-ended questions )


Further information:

The assessment criteria will be based on the acquisition of the knowledge and the capacities mentioned above, as objectives of the course.

 

The evaluation will include:

 

• an "oral participation mark", concerning the active implication of the student in the course during the whole quadrimester, representing 50% of the final mark, and

• a "written examination mark", evaluating an essay that the students shall have to write on a subject related to the course, during a written examination in January, representing 50% of the final mark.

Work placement(s)

Organisational remarks and main changes to the course

Course delivered during the first quadrimester,

on Wednesdays, from 11h to 13h,

at the Department of Political Science (Building 31, Sart Tilman).

Contacts

Dr. Aikaterini Lefka

Aikaterini.Lefka@uliege.be

Association of one or more MOOCs

There is no MOOC associated with this course.