Actors, Networks and Lobbying in the European Union

This is an interdisciplinary course integrating social science and contemporary historical perspectives on the European Union. It adopts an actor-centred perspective focussing on the changing role of a variety of state and non-state actors in EU politics over time up to the present. The first section of the course is devoted to state actors with a particular focus on some member-states and the European Commission in the integration process and policy-making. The second section addresses the growth and the role of various non-state societal actors in the EU including political parties, business groups, trade unions and public interest groups. The final section deals with interest representation in the EU. Building on the two previous sections, the concluding sessions will discuss the actual involvement of societal actors in lobbying and different lobbying strategies. It will also include the preparation of lobbying strategies, their presentation and their discussion by student groups. In this way, students will also prepare the assessment for this course, which consists of an individual written lobbying strategy.

Knowledge:
The candidate will attain
- basic knowledge of the role state and non-state actors play in EU politics
- basic knowledge of lobbyism and lobbying strategies carried out by societal actors
- basic knowledge of the role and functions of various non-state societal actors in the EU
- basic knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of how societal agents acts in the EU
Skills:
The candidate will develop skills to
- be able to describe how societal actors perform their activities in the EU
- be able to theoretically and methodically analyse how societal actors perform their activities in the EU
- be able to participate in empirically and theoretically informed debates on the EU and lobbying

Combined lecture and seminars including inter alia the discussion of sources, oral presentations and debate. Intensive teaching period (two weeks), followed by a home exam.