PS 139A

The Political Economy of European Integration

Spring 2001

Lecturer: David Ellison

Office Hours: MW 2-3pm
Office: 4252 Bunche Hall
Email:
Dellison@ucla.edu
(w): (310) 825-3984

Course Description

This course examines the history and development of the European Union (EU), its institutions and the mechanics of the decision-making process, a number of its more important policy areas, and its future outlook, both with respect to the composition of Member States and with respect to its institutions. Particular attention will be paid to the development of the EU’s institutional decision-making structure and to the political economy of some of its more important policies. The course will focus above all on the themes of economic and market integration, the features of the EU’s redistributive mechanisms, Social Policy, the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU), and the Enlargement debate. In addition to the economic aspects of enlargement, particular attention will be paid to the redesign of the EU’s institutional structure and the multiple suggestions about the future composition of European Government currently being raised within the context of the Fischer debate.

Course Requirements: Exams and Papers

Students must complete one midterm, one final exam and one paper of approximately 10 pages. Students will be required to choose their own paper topics. A good place to start looking for topics is by going through the chapters of the books we will read and the articles that appear in the course reader. Other topics are also possible. It is strongly recommended that each student discuss the topic of his or her paper with the me before handing in a draft. Grading for the course will be based on the following: paper 40%, mid-term 30%, and the final exam 30%. Extra credit will be assessed for classroom participation and regular assignments.

 

Required Readings:

Neal, Larry and Daniel Barbezat (1998). The Economics of the European Union and the Economies of Europe, New York: Oxford University Press.

Reader: will be available for purchase at Westwood Copies, 1001 Gayley Ave #1004, (310) 208-3233.

Suggested Readings:

Dinan, Desmond (1999). Ever closer union: An introduction to European Integration, 2nd ed., Boulder, CO: L. Rienner Publishers.

Moravcsik, Andrew (1998). The Choice for Europe: Social Purpose and State Power from Messina to Maastricht, Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

Sidjanski, Dusan (2000). The Federal Future of Europe: From the European Community to the European Union, Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press.

Week I: General Introduction, Current Events and the Future of Europe (Apr. 2-6th)

Week II: The Major Treaty Milestones and Theories on European Integration (Apr. 9-13th)

Week III: The Institutions and Decision-Making Structure of the EU (Apr. 16-20th)

Paper Proposal Due: Monday, Apr. 16th (via email)

Week IV: The Logic of Market Integration: the EEC, the Single Market and Beyond (Apr. 23rd-Apr. 27th)

Week V: Regulation of the Single Market (Apr. 30th-May 4th)

Midterm Exam: Wednesday, May 2nd (in class)

Week VI: The Redistributive Device: the CAP & Regional Development Policy (May 7-11th)

Week VII: European Economic & Monetary Union (EMU) (May 14-18th)

For rewrites:

Paper Due, Wednesday, May 16th (in class)

Week VIII: The Eastern Enlargement, Cyprus and Malta (May 21-25th)

Week IX: Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) (May 28th-June 1st)

Wednesday, May 30th: Rewrites returned to students

For non-rewrites: Paper due

Week X: The Future of the Union, Review (June 4-8th)

Wednesday, June 6th: Rewrites due (in class)

Final Exam: Wednesday, June 13th, 11:30-2:30pm