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European Integration: Theory and Political Process

Code: 42453 ECTS Credits: 10
2025/2026
Degree Type Year
Political Science OT 0

Contact

Name:
Nuria Esther Font Borras
Email:
nuria.font@uab.cat

Teachers

Irina Ciornei
(External) Javier Arregui
(External) Nuria González Campana
(External) Xavier Ferrer

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

Students enrolled in this course are expected to have a Bachelors degree level in Political Science or in any other social science discipline. Basic knowledge on the process of European integration is also required.

 

 

 

Objectives and Contextualisation

The purpose of this module is to introduce students with the history and institutional processes of the European Union, as well as to provide them with theoretical and methodological tools that are required for studying the process of European Integration. The module is intended to help students successfully write a research paper and develop research skills for PhD applications.

The module overviews the different phases of European Integration, the modes of EU governance and the different conceptualizations applied to EU policy, politics and policies. The module is divided in a set of thematic lectures by professors from the UAB and visiting scholars from other universities.

 


Competences

  • Applied theoretical knowledge acquired from the analysis of real situation and using political analysis generate useful orientations for decision-making.
  • Demonstration reading comprehension for specialist texts in English.
  • Recognise the complexity of politics today, its diversity and the tensions to which it is exposed, with special emphasis on the Spanish and European contexts.
  • Understand the design, operation and consequences of the political institutions and their relation to processes of governance.
  • Work in international and interdisciplinary teams whose members have different origins and backgrounds.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the most relevant European policies from the point of view of economic and social cohesion and sustainability.
  2. Apply the different theories on integration and European governance to specific cases.
  3. Define theories of governance in the European Union and on europeanization.
  4. Demonstration reading comprehension for specialist texts in English.
  5. Differentiate between the different agents operating in the European Union: their actions, interest and resources.
  6. Identify the role of political agents at different levels of government in the drawing up and implementation of European policies.
  7. Recognise the different regulatory, economic and social elements that are necessary for understanding European Union policy.
  8. Work in international and interdisciplinary teams whose members have different origins and backgrounds.

Content

The calendar will be available on the first day of class. Students will find all information on the Virtual Campus: the description of the activities, teaching materials, and any necessary information for the proper follow-up of the subject. In case of a change of teaching modality for health reasons, teachers will make readjustments in the schedule and methodologies.
 
The course is divided into six main sections:
 

1. The process of decision-making in the EU

2. The EU and the rule of law

3. Transparency in the EU

4. Theories of European integration

5. Policy-making in the EU

6. The EU and the polycrisis decade


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Lectures and seminars 63 2.52 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Type: Supervised      
Tutorials 50 2 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7
Type: Autonomous      
Preparation exam 34.5 1.38 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Preparation of assigned readings 90 3.6 4

The methodology is based on the following learning activities:

- Activities in the classrroom directed by the faculty, during the scheduled time during the semester. These ativities can be theoretical or practical. Theoretical activities consist of presentations by professors followed by discussions. For proper development of the activity, prior reading of the literature and related materials is required. Practical ativities will consist of oral presentations and data collection exercises.

- Activities performed by students under the supervision of the professor. These activities mostly include the elaboration of papers.

- Autonomous activities performed by students, both individually and collectivelly. Students will organize their time and work. These activities include readings and study of bibligraphy, data search, preparation of oral presentations and preparation of evaluation activities.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Class participation 20 2 0.08 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8
Written exam first part of the module 60 4.5 0.18 1, 3, 6
Written exam second part 20 6 0.24 3, 4, 6, 7

The evaluation is based on three elements:

1. A written exam on the first part of the module: 50%

2. A written exam on the second part of the module: 20%

3. In-class participation: 20%

 IMPORTANT:

-Attendance is compulsory (at least 80% of the sessions)

-Students will be entitled to the revaluation of the subject. They should present a minimum of activities that equals two-thirds of the total grading.

-The student who performs any irregularity (copy, plagiarism, identity theft...) will be qualified with 0 in this assignment or exam. In case there are several irregularities, the final grade of the subject will be 0.


Bibliography

At the beginning of the course a list with compulsory readings will be uploaded on the virtual campus. 

 

Remedial readings:

Bomberg, E., J. Peterson and A. Stubb (eds) (2008), The European Union: How Does it Work?, Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Bulmer, S. et al. (2020) Politics in the European Union, Oxford:Oxford University Press. Also available in Ebook.

Bulmer, S. and Lequesne, Ch. (eds) 2020, The Member States of the European Union, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 3rd ed.

Cini, M. and Pérez-Solorzano, N. (eds) (2019), European Union Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 6th edition.

Dinan,D. (2014), Origins and Evolution of the EU, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2nd edition.

Dinan, D. (2010), Ever closer union?: An introduction to European integration, London:Palgrave Macmillan, 4th edition.

Hix,S. And B. Hoyland (2022), The Political System of the European Union, London:Palgrave Macmillan, 4th ed.

Nugent, N. (2010), The Government and Politics of the European Union, London: Palgrave Macmillan.

Wallace, H. et al. (2020) Policy-making in the EU, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 8th ed. (digital version)

https://global.oup.com/ukhe/product/policy-making-in-the-european-union-9780198807605?cc=gb&lang=en&


Software

N/A


Groups and Languages

Please note that this information is provisional until 30 November 2025. You can check it through this link. To consult the language you will need to enter the CODE of the subject.

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 English second semester morning-mixed