European Studies – (M.A.)

Contents

The units on the course are designed to provide a wide range of approaches to the study of Europe. The interdisciplinary nature of the degree means that students can combine political and contemporary history perspectives with those from international relations and area studies. While students can choose to specialise in the study of the EU the course also encourages the study of Europe in its wider sense including the former Soviet Union and Europe´s relations with the wider world.

The structure of core units and options on the degree is designed to maximise the ability of students to fashion a course which best suits their needs and interests. For example, if you wish you can choose to specialise in the area of European politics and governance or you can concentrate on Europe´s external relations and foreign and security perspectives. However, you can also design a more mixed selection.

Course structure

Core units
(All first semester)

* European Union: Institutions, Law and Theories
* Nationalism, Ethnicity and Citizenship in Europe
* European Integration
* Researching Europe (Research management unit. Extends also into second semester)

Optional units
Students choose any FOUR from:

First semester:

* Democratisation and Transition in Europe and Eurasia
* Europe and The Middle East
* Global Governance

Second semester:

* Governing Europe
* Policymaking in the EU
* External Relations of the EU
* Networks, Actors and Lobbying in the EU
* Security Politics in Europe
* Foreign Policy Analysis

Your area of specialisation within the degree can be reinforced by the dissertation you choose. In view of the fact that Portsmouth is the largest research centre in Europe Studies in the UK - as confirmed by the Research Assessment Exercise of 2008 - we can provide supervision for dissertations on an extremely wide range of topics. The broad range of areas of our expertise include:

* European Union governance and policymaking
* European Law, human rights
* European foreign policy and security issues, conflict resolution
* Europe´s relations with the wider world - especially Africa, The Middle East, Russia
* Social policy in Europe
* European Union integration and history
* Democratisation and transition in the former Soviet Union
* Nationalism, identity and citizenship issues in Europe
* Topics in the modern and contemporary history of individual European countries

This is just an indication of broad topic areas. Students make their final more focused decisions in consultation with staff during the course of the first semester.

Description of units

European Union: Institutions, Law and Theories (Core, 15 credits, 1st semester)
The unit examines the key EU institutions and their role in EU decision-making: the Commission, Council, European Parliament as well as the various committees. It looks at their interrelationship and interaction with national-level institutions. The role of the European Court of Justice is looked at and students examine the primary and secondary sources of European Community Law and their application in furthering European integration. The main theories of European integration are also discussed and applied.

European Integration (Core, 15 credits, 1st semester)
This is largely a modern and contemporary history unit. It examines the development of West European integration in the context of the end of WWII and the emerging Cold War. The various factors, constraints and debates involved in further European integration, the development of EU institutions and common policies will be looked at. The impact of key treaties will also be examined. The unit will also examine the causes and consequences of the revolutions in Eastern Europe at the end of the 1980s. It will also look at the process of enlargement and the impact this has had on the institutions and policies of the EU and in particular the tensions between the projects of enlarging and deepening.

Nationalism, Ethnicity and Citizenship in Europe (Core, 15 credits, 1st semester)
This unit examines the place of nationalism, national identity and ethnic identity in contemporary Europe. It will look at the varieties of nationalism in western, southern and eastern Europe and different models of citizenship. Ethnic mobilisation and community formation will be analysed. National and European policies on immigration, citizenship and asylum will be looked at. The factors behind the rise of racism in Europe will also be discussed.

Researching Europe (Core, 15 credits, 1st and 2nd semester)
This is a research management unit designed to help students with the selection and research for their dissertation. We discuss what makes for a good dissertation, potential topics which you may think about and what previous students have looked at. Staff provide sessions on a variety of research methods and students are introduced to the wealth of databases and sources in European Studies. At the end of the unit students have to produce a detailed dissertation proposal on their potential topic.

Democratisation and Transition in Eastern Europe and Eurasia (Option, 15 credits, 1st semester)
The unit examines the problems of transition in the former Soviet republics and Soviet bloc states and considers the nature of the political systems which have been established. In particular it examines the constraints on and extent of the development of democracy. The scope extends from those states which have now successfully been integrated into the EU such as Poland, Hungary and the Baltic States to Russia and the states of the Caucasus and Central Asia. In addition key foreign, security and economic interrelationships across the area will be looked at, including the relationship of the states with the EU and Russia. The success, or not, of regional organisations will also be examined.

Europe and the Middle East (Option, 15 credits, 1st semester)
The unit examines the changing relationship between Europe and the Middle East. It assesses the role played by Europe in Middle East conflicts as well as examining the impact of Middle Eastern politics, including terrorism, on Europe. Students will examine such topics as the interventions of Europe and the US in Iraq and Iran, the significance of oil and the issue of dependency in the region. The impact of the EU´s Neighbourhood Policy will also be assessed.

Global Governance (Option, 15 credits, 1st semester)
The unit examines the main theoretical, institutional and normative controversies of global governance. It will examine key theories in international relations and undertake comparative studies to analyse the ramifications of global governance. The role of non-state actors in world politics will be considered. Topics examined will include global political economy, the privatisation of governance, global civil society and the debates concerning the democratisation of global governance.

External Relations of the EU (Option, 15 credits, 2nd semester)
We will look at the operation of the EU as an international actor and consider relevant theoretical approaches. The policy processes and decision-making strategies behind EU external relations will be discussed and a range of key policy areas such as trade and development examined. The EU as a normative power and the role of the Neighbourhood Policy will be assessed. Finally a range of case studies will be undertaken such as the EU and Russia, the EU and the US and the EU and Africa, reflecting areas of research expertise among staff.

Governing Europe (Option, 15 credits, 2nd semester)
The unit evaluates concepts of government and governance in Europe. It looks at the changing roles of the state in contemporary Europe and the impact of globalisation, Europeanisation and privatisation upon those roles. It discusses the multi-level and cross-sectoral governance of states and policy networks. Debates over the processes of (dis)integration of Europe will also be looked at.

Networks, Actors and Lobbying in the EU (Option, 15 credits, 2nd semester)
The unit will examine the role of transnational networks and actors in the EU since 1945. It will look at their role in the formation of the EU and also the contribution they make to the effective democratic functioning of the EU. Business networks and non-governmental organisations will be looked at as well as transnational political party networks. Historical documents as well as policy papers will be discussed. Students will also work on the development of lobbying strategies within 'Brussels'.

Security Politics (Option, 15 credits, 2nd semester)
The unit will examine key issues of contemporary security politics in international relations and their relevance to Europe. Students will examine the changing meaning of security from classical approaches to contemporary concepts of human, political, economic and environmental security. The major challenges to security providers in Europe will be analysed. Topics examined will include NATO in the new Europe, The EU as a new security actor, intervention and peace enforcement in Kosovo, 'the war on terror' and counter terrorism strategies.

Policymaking in the EU (Option, 15 credits, 2nd semester)
This unit looks at the framework of policy analysis. It examines key policy processes and patterns of decision-making within the EU and identifies the key actors and areas of EU policy. Particular study is made of a range of policy areas making use of the research expertise of members of staff. The single market and European Monetary Union are looked at. Other policy areas include the Common Agricultural Policy, Education, Regional and Budgetary Policy as well as the environment and social policy.