EURO06005 2016 European Studies
This module offers students the opportunity to improve their knowledge of Europe, its cultures, politics, economies and social make-up The forms of cooperation betweeen states which have emerged since 1945 will be explored, for example the Council of Europe, the OSCE and the EU. It aims to familiarise students with Europe’s particular contribution to human rights and citizenship. Current issues will feature prominently to encourage engagement with present day problems.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this module the learner will/should be able to;
Describe the social, cultural, economic and political situation of a cross-section of countries in Europe today
Explain the development of European organisations promoting inter-state cooperation.
Review the responses of governments to change and how notions such as community, democracy, citizenship and equality are affected
Appreciate the significance and importance of human rights, human rights documents and enforcement mechanisms within Europe.
Engage with and debate about the key problems that challenge European societies in the 21st century
Review a relevant media item (film, song, literature piece, play) which illuminates cultural, social or political issues under discussion
Teaching and Learning Strategies
Class based instruction, discussion and activity-based learning
A self-select group project and a 'simulation' meeting of an EU Council of Ministers are the interactive elements of the Teaching and Learning Strategy for this module. Specialist guest lecturers are invited through 'europe direct' and local MEPs. There is a cultural study trip (as time and budget allows)
Module Assessment Strategies
Continuous Assessment - any ONE of moodle quizzes, written tests, oral presentations, debate
Problem based learning: simulation meeting of a relevant committee of European organisation
Final Exam
Repeat Assessments
A project/essay and/or a repeat exam, as appropriate
Indicative Syllabus
The Many Dimensions of Europe Today
- Official Europe
- Pan Europe
- Civilisational Europe
Historical Background
- 1900 - 2016
- The post Cold War Order
Country Studies
Forms of co-operation in Europe today
- A basic overview of economic, political and military organisations
The EU, the Council of Europe, OSCE, NATO
Concepts of intergovernmental and supranational
Citizenship, Human rights and Migration
- protection, promotion and ensuring human rights
- introduction to European Court of Human Rights
- the EU and The Council of Europe and Human Rights
Current Issues
Coursework & Assessment Breakdown
Coursework Assessment
Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Formative and Summative Assessment PBL: Simulation Game | Continuous Assessment | Assessment | 30 % | Week 9 | 1,2,3,4,6 |
2 | Moodle Quiz and/or Project | Continuous Assessment | Assessment | 20 % | OnGoing | |
End of Semester / Year Assessment
Title | Type | Form | Percent | Week | Learning Outcomes Assessed | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Final Exam | Final Exam | Closed Book Exam | 50 % | End of Term | 1,2,3,4,5 |
Full Time Mode Workload
Type | Location | Description | Hours | Frequency | Avg Workload |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lecture | Lecture Theatre | Lecture | 3 | Weekly | 3.00 |
Cultural Trip | Not Specified | cultural and political cultural trip | 0 | Once Per Semester | 0.00 |
Independent Learning | UNKNOWN | Reading and essay writing | 3 | Weekly | 3.00 |
Required & Recommended Book List

2014-04-14 Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (The European Union Series) Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 1137362324 ISBN-13 9781137362322
2016-05-20 Jrgen Habermas and the European Economic Crisis: Cosmopolitanism Reconsidered (Routledge Studies in Social and Political Thought) Routledge
ISBN 1138185833 ISBN-13 9781138185838
The European Union entered into an economic crisis in late 2009 that was sparked by bank bailouts and led to large, unsustainable, sovereign debt. The crisis was European in scale, but hit some countries in the Eurozone harder than others. Despite the plethora of writings devoted to the economic crisis in Europe, present understandings of how the political decisions would influence the integration project continue to remain vague. What does it actually mean to be European? Is Europe still a collection of peoples that rallied together during good times and then retreat to nationalism when challenges appear? Or has Europe adopted a common identity that would foster solidarity during hard times?
This book provides its reader with a fresh perspective on the importance identity has on the functioning of the European Union as exemplified in Jrgen Habermas seminal text, The Crisis of the European Union: A Response. Rather than exploring the causes of the crisis, the contributors examine the current state of European identity to determine the likelihood of implementing Habermas suggestions. The contributors interdisciplinary approach is organized into four parts and examines the following key areas of concern:
- Habermas arguments, placing them into their historical context.
- To which degree do Europeans share the ideals Habermas describes as crucial to his program of reform.
- Influence of Habermas cosmopolitanism through religious and literary lenses.
- Impact of Habermas notions in the arenas of education, national economies, austerity, and human rights.
Jrgen Habermas and the European Economic Crisis will be read by scholars in the fields of Political Theory and Philosophy, European Politics and Cultural Studies.

2003-10-10 Contemporary Europe: A History (10th Edition) Pearson
ISBN 0131841769 ISBN-13 9780131841765
Clearly written and understandably organized, this classic book about European political, social, economic, and intellectual history covers events throughout the Continent from 1914 to the present, treating Europe as a single unit. This new edition features a thoroughly updated final chapter with the latest research on contemporary subjects. The author begins with a view of Europe in 1914 with an emphasis on Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean, as well as on Western Europe. The book thoroughly covers such contemporary topics as: the successful launch of the Euro as the currency of the European Union; the election of Vladimir Putin and the emergence of a new Russia; the election of Tony Blair and the rise of New Labor in the United Kingdom; the expansion of NATO; the rise of right-wing extremism; and the tense relations between Europeans and immigrant groups, particularly Muslims; all topics contribute to this being the leading source of information on this important and timely field. Coverage also includes: the First World War; the Russian Revolution and its consequences; technology and society; the high culture of the 1920s; the Great Depression; the Fascist regimes; the Stalinist system; the Second World War; the Cold War; the loss of Colonial Empire; achieving prosperity; and the future of a new Europe. For readers who wish to own a comprehensive and interesting book about the contemporary history of Europe; this book will also serve as an excellent reference for scholars of history or those who are involved in firms that trade internationally.

2016-08-12 Society and Social Change in 21st Century Europe Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 1137277807 ISBN-13 9781137277800
An authoritative but accessible introduction to all key aspects of life across contemporary Europe focusing in particular on the dynamics of social change and similarities and differences between groups of European states and in contrast to other advanced industrial societies.

2013-05-10 European Politics: A Comparative Introduction (Comparative Government and Politics) Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN 023036294X ISBN-13 9780230362949
Thematically structured to address the key institutions and issues, it is genuinely pan-European in scope. Although no country is ignored, a range of representative countries (the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden and the UK) as well as the European Union itself, are used as key examples throughout the book and each of them is the subject of an in-depth double-page country profiles. The text is supported by a range of features, including:
- Double-page country profiles with coverage of key issues
- Debate boxes which give the pros and cons of contested issues
- Key Point boxes to reinforce learning and aid revision
- Further Reading, Web Links and Discussion Questions for each chapter
The third edition has been fully revised and updated to take account of the latest developments and now includes coverage of the Eurozone crisis, governments' austerity measures and recent legislation affecting privacy and human rights.

2013-09-26 Ethnic Conflict and War Crimes in the Balkans: The Narratives of Denial in Post-Conflict Serbia (International Library of War Studies) I.B.Tauris
ISBN 1848850034 ISBN-13 9781848850033
Module Resources
Core Text:
John McCormick, 2014 Understanding the European Union: A Concise Introduction (The European Union Series) Palgrave Macmillan (6e)
Recommended Text:
Sakwa and Steven, (2012) Contemporary Europe Palgrave Macmillan, (3nd ed)
Almond, Powell et al, (2010) European Politics Today Longman (4th ed)
Lacroix and Nicolaidis, (2010) European Stories Intellectual Debates on Europe in National Contexts, OUP
Bale, Tim (2013) European Politics 3rd edition Palgrave Macmillan
Anderson, B. (1983). Imagined communities: reflections on the origins and spread of nationalism London: Verso
Delanty, Gerard (1995). Inventing Europe, London: Macmillan Press,
Bianchini & George Schöpflin (Ed.), State Building in the Balkans. Dilemmas on the Eve of the 21st Century (Ravenna: Longo Editore, 1998),
Brian Graham (ed.) (1998), Modern Europe: Place, Culture, Identity;
O Schmidtke and Serhy Yekelchyk (2008) Europe's Last frontier? Belarus, Moldova and Ukraine between Russia and the European Union
Donald McNeill (2004), New Europe: Imagined Spaces.Hodder Arnold Pub
Radio Radicale's Political Resources on the Net
Information and discussion of European and EU politics EurAktiv
Election results Parties and Elections in Europe
Websites by European and EU Studies :
Chatham House - http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/; Aston Centre for Europe - http://www.aston.ac.uk/lss/research/research-centres/aston-centre-europe/
University Association for Contemporary European Studies
http://www.uaces.org/resources/list-of-european-studies-journals
Microphones for Simulation Meetings
A Cultural Study Trip is part of this course - if time and budget allows