Module Information

Module Identifier

IP23820

Module Title

The European Union: Politics, Policies, Problems

Academic Year

2025/2026

Co-ordinator

Dr Alistair Shepherd

Semester

Semester 1

Reading List

View example reading list on Aspire

Course Delivery

Assessment

Assessment Type	Assessment length / details	Proportion
Semester Assessment	Essay 1 2000 Words	50%
Semester Assessment	Essay 2 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay 1 2000 Words	50%
Supplementary Assessment	Essay 2 2000 Words	50%

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of the well-established theoretical explanations of European integration.

Analyse decision-making dynamics in European politics over time, and the shifting balance of power between European institutions.

Describe, compare and evaluate key policies within the European Union.

Identify and discuss the key policy challenges facing the European Union, and different solutions for meeting these.

Demonstrate understanding of different state and European level interests and their interaction in European policy-making.

Brief description

With the European Union facing multiple crises, including Brexit, the refugee crisis, terrorist attacks, an ailing Eurozone and conflicts in its neighbourhood, this module provides the foundation for a comprehensive analysis and understanding of the dynamics of the European Union (EU). It examines how it evolved, how it works, which are the key institutions and actors in European integration, as well as the policies and challenges shaping the future of Europe.

Content

The module is taught through a combination of lectures and seminars. It is divided into three parts:
Part 1: Introduces students to the historical origins and development of the EU, and key theoretical approaches to understanding European integration.
Part 2: Discusses the dynamics of power and decision-making in the EU. The module introduces students to key political institutions, the evolving relationship between them and their strengths and weaknesses.
Part 3: Provides an overview of key EU policies, outlining important developments in each area, and some of the main challenges facing

Module Skills

Skills Type	Skills details
Application of Number	n/a
Communication	Students will learn how to present their ideas verbally and in writing, and how to present their arguments most effectively. They will develop skills in using the many sources of information available to best advantage. They will learn to be clear in their writing and speaking and to be direct about aims and objectives. They will learn to consider only that which is relevant to the topic, focus and objectives of their argument or discussion. Students will also be required to submit their written assessments in word-processed format and the presentation of work should reflect effective expression of ideas and good use of language skills in order to ensure clarity, coherence and effective communication.
Improving own Learning and Performance	The module aims to promote self-management but within a context in which support and assistance is available from the module convenor and other students. Students will be expected to improve their own learning and performance by undertaking their own research and exercising their own initiative, including searching for sources and deciding how to answer assessed essay questions.
Information Technology	The module is designed to hone and test skills of use to students in their working lives, particularly in speaking to small groups, listening, thinking and responding to the statement of others. Moreover, the written work requires students to write clearly and concisely, which is a common task in the workplace. Students will be encouraged throughout to reflect on their performance and to consider lessons for future
Personal Development and Career planning	The module is designed to hone and test skills of use to students in their working lives, particularly in speaking to small groups, listening, thinking and responding to the statement of others. Moreover, the written work requires students to write clearly and concisely, which is a common task in the workplace. Students will be encouraged throughout to reflect on their performance and to consider lessons for future application.
Problem solving	Independent work and problem solving will be one central goal of the module; the submission of written assignments will require that students develop independent research skills as well as problem solving skills. The ability of students to solve problems will be developed and assessed by asking them to: adopt differing points of view; organize data and estimate an answer to the problem; consider extreme cases; reason logically; construct theoretical models; consider similar cases; look for patterns; divide issues into smaller problems
Research skills	Students will be required to undertake independent research in order to complete the assessed work. This will involve utilizing a range of information sources, including core academic texts, journal articles, EU electronic publications, and online news sources.
Subject Specific Skills	Students have the opportunity to develop, practice and test a wide range of subject specific skills that help them to understand, conceptualise and evaluate examples and ideas on the module. These subject specific skills include: • Collect and understand a wide range of data relating to the module • Evaluate competing perspectives • Apply a range of methodologies to complex historical and contemporary social and political problems.
Team work	Students will undertake team exercises in the seminars. For many of the topics of this module, seminars will consist of small-group discussions where students will be asked to discuss as a group the core issues related to the seminar topic. These class discussions and debates form a significant part of the module, and will allow students to approach and examine a given topic through team work.

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 5