The European Union - Rural and Regional Political Economy

It is expected that students already have basic knowledge about the EU, its history, institutions, etc. The course addresses core regional and rural dimensions of the European Union and the relationship between The EU and Norway (e.g. agricultural and food policy; rural development; regional and cohesion policies; fishery policy; energy and climate policy, trade policy). The course will approach these issues with a political economy framework. This implies that we study how political and institutional processes frame economic activity and vice versa, and that we highlight the multi-level character of EU politics and policies.

Knowledge - the student shall have knowledge of the central discussions and new research on important rural and regional dimensions of the European Union and the relationship between the EU and Norway.
Skills - the student shall demonstrate the ability to treat one of the themes which was discussed in instruction in an independent empirical analytical manner which fulfills the requirements for scientific writing, and be able to orally discuss and reflect over the themes which were discussed during teaching.

Lectures and seminars totaling 4 hours per week. Individual advice on term paper.

If less than 6 students attend the course the two first weeeks of teaching, the course will be given as an individual study course with supervision. Please contact the departement for further information.