Course syllabus

EUROPEAN 206/302: European Integration
Summer School 2021 (15 points)

Course Overview:
What is European integration, and how does this concept exist in Europe today, especially amidst present challenges including security concerns and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic?  This interdisciplinary course explores European integration from a number of perspectives: political, economic, social and cultural integration, as well as its effects on the fabric of contemporary Europe. This course utilises lectures and interactive tutorial sessions to introduce theory, practical understanding, and case studies to develop students’ knowledge of Europe and the European Union (EU) today.

This team-taught interdisciplinary course examines key aspects of "integration" and the multi-faceted European Union:

• Historical background on Europe and the European Union
• The institutions of the EU: their structures, legal underpinnings, and decision-making functions
• Political challenges presently facing the EU: expansion, Euroscepticism, foreign policy, security, and emerging threats
• The European Single Market, EU budget, trade, and economy policy
• Culture, identity, and citizenship within a diverse Europe
• Responses to the COVID-19 pandemic across Europe and within the European Union

Course delivery format:
2 hours of lectures and 1 hour of tutorial
Lectures: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 1100-1300, OGGB; Case Room 4/260-009.

Tutorials: Thursdays, 1100-1200 (206), 1200-1300 (302) Humanities, Room 201.
(Timetable and room details can be viewed on Student Services Online)

Lecturers:
Prof. Bernadette Luciano (b.luciano@auckland.ac.nz) – Course coordinator
Prof. Maartje Abbenhuis (m.abbenhuis@auckland.ac.nz) - History
Dr. An Hertogen (an.hertogen@auckland.ac.nz) – Law School
Dr. Stefano Riela (stefano.riela@auckland.ac.nz) – Economics
Ms. Logan Carmichael (logan.carmichael@auckland.ac.nz - Office Hours Thursday 1-2pm, Arts 2 313b)

Course Outline:
Week 1: Historical Background of Europe and the European Union
6 January (Maartje Abbenhuis) – Historical background on Europe and EU
7 January – Tutorial: reviewing history of Europe and EU

Week 2: Introduction to EU Institutions, Law, and Politics
12 January (An Hertogen) – Introducing the EU institutions and law
13 January (Logan Carmichael) – Political challenges and foreign policy in the EU
14 January – Tutorial: reviewing EU institutions, law, politics, and foreign policy; prepare for test

Week 3: Case Study and Introduction to European Single Market
19 January (Logan Carmichael) – Case study: Russia, Ukraine, and the EU
20 January (Stefano Riela) – European Single Market and trade policy
21 January – Tutorial: reviewing case study and European Single Market; prepare for Assignment #1

Week 4: Current Issues in the EU
26 January (Niels Meinderts, MFAT) – NZ-EU Free Trade Agreement 
27 January (HE Nina Obermaier, Ambassador of the EU) – topic TBD
28 January – Tutorial: reviewing guest lecturers' material; Assignment #2 brainstorm activity

Week 5: Economy and Culture in the EU
2 February (Stefano Riela) – Competition policy and the budget of the EU
3 February (Bernadette Luciano) – Culture, identity, and citizenship in the EU
4 February – Tutorial: reviewing trade issues in the EU; peer-review prep for Assignment #2

Week 6: The COVID-19 Pandemic in the EU
9 February (Stefano Riela) – The single currency and the EU response to COVID-19
10 February (Bernadette Luciano) – COVID-19 continued, course wrap-up
11 February – Tutorial: review COVID-19 responses, wrap up course content

Assessment:
Online test (30%) – covers materials from weeks 1-2   (Test closes 18 January)

Assignment #1 (35%) – questions for guests (EU Ambassador HE Nina Obermaier and Niels Meinderts from MFAT) and reflection on response to week 4 guests; ~1500 words (Due 8 February)

Assignment #2 – case study report on COVID-19 (30%; ~1200 words for stage 2; ~1500 words for stage 3) and proposal on report submitted in week 6 (5%; ~250 words) (Due 17 February)

Prescribed Texts:
All course materials and detailed reading list are available on CANVAS.

Workload and deadlines for submission of coursework:
The University of Auckland's expectation is that students spend 10 hours per week on a 15-point course, including time in class and personal study. Please note: this translates into 20 hours per week over the course of the intensive summer semester. Students should manage their academic workload and other commitments accordingly. Deadlines for coursework are set by course convenors and will be advertised in course material. You should submit your work on time. In extreme circumstances, such as illness, you may seek an extension but you may be required to provide supporting information before the assignment is due. Late assignments without a pre-approved extension may be penalised by loss of marks – check course information for details.