The European Integration Process

What explains the process of European integration? Why have consolidated nation-states chosen to surrender political sovereignty to EU institutions? The course puts the idea of a unified Europe in a long historical perspective, but has the post World War II period as its main focus. The purpose is to provide understanding for the creation and development of the European Union. Emphasis is on the conditions for integration on three different levels: the domestic level, the European level and the international level. By means of the assignment, the course also develops the candidate’s ability to plan and to carry out a medium-size piece of analytic work.

A candidate who passes this course is expected to have the following learning outcome according to the course curriculum, defined as knowledge and skills: Knowledge: - The candidate has wide knowledge of the process of European integration in the post-1945 period - The candidate is familiar with the historical premises for the creation and development of the process of European integration on domestic, European and international level. - The candidate is familiar with different theoretical approaches to the study of the process of European integration. Skills: - The candidate is able to apply his knowledge of this period to present and analyse central questions in European policy. - The candidate is able to plan and carry out a medium-size text that complies with the requirements of academic writing.

Lectures/seminars, one compulsory written assignment (counts 60% of assessment), and one written, four-hour, final exam (counts 40% of assessment).