PSI 401 European Integration

2024 - 2025 Fall Semester

 

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Akşemsettinoğlu

Department of Political Science and International Relations

Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences

Çankaya University                                                                                  

 

Tel: 233 10 00 / 1249         Office: K - 414

E-mail: gokhana@cankaya.edu.tr

Web page: http://psi401.cankaya.edu.tr                                                                      

       

Course Hours / Place                                                       

Wednesday           09.20 – 12.10 / K - 103                      

 

Office Hours / Place:

Wednesday       13.20 - 14.10 / K - 414   

Thursday          10.20 - 11.10 / K - 414    

 

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to European integration. It analyzes the process of European integration since the Second World War and examines basic institutions, policies, and issues of the European Union (EU). The course is composed of six main parts. In the first part, it reviews the origin and historical development of European integration. The second part of the course is about the theories of the European integration. In this part, neo-functionalism, intergovernmentalism and some new approaches will be examined. In the third part, the major institutions and the actors of the EU will be discussed. In the fourth part, the Community’s decision-making process will be analyzed. In the fifth part, some policies will be explained. In this part, the enlargement process, the foreign, security and defense policy of the EU and economic and monetary union will be discussed. In the last part of the course some issues and debates such as democracy and the economic crisis will be analyzed.

 

Course Requirement

In this course students are required to attend the classes  ( 70 per cent, at least) read the course materials regularly and participate class discussions. During the semester, the students will be given one midterm exam, a final exam and homework. Announcement about the homework will be made later. In the exams, students will responsiible from both course materials and class notes.

 

Course Materials

The required reading material of the course:

● Cini, Michelle and Nieves Perez-Solorzano Borragan. European Union Politics, 6^th Edition, Oxford U. Press, 2022.

The following books are suggested for further study:

● Buonano, Laurie and Neill Nugent. Policies and Policy Processes of the EU, Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2013.

● Gilbert, Mark. European Union: A Concise History, Rowman and Little field Publishers, 2012.

● Nugent, Neill. The Government and Politics of the European Union, Palgrave Macmillan, New York, 2010.

● Coelata D. Morgan (Editor). European Union: Background and Issues, Nova Science Publishers, New York, 2010.

● Moussis, Nicholas. Access to European Union, Law, Economics, Policies, European Study Service, 18^th Edition, 2009.

●McCormick, John. Avrupa Birliği Siyaseti, Adres Yayınları, Ankara, 2015.

● Günuğur, Haluk. Avrupa Birliği, Avrupa Ekonomik Danışma Merkezi Yayını, Bilim Serisi -8, Ankara, 2014.

●Akçay, Belgin ve İ. Göçmen. Avrupa Birliği, Tarihçe, Teoriler, Kurumlar ve Politikalar, 2. Baskı, Seçkin, Ankara, 2012.

● Özdemir, Haluk. Avrupa Mantığı, Avrupa Bütünleşmesinin Teori ve Dinamikleri, BÜTEK, İstanbul, 2012.

The copy of all readings will be available for duplication in the photocopy room. Students are strongly recommended to either buy the textbook or have a complete set of readings for the course as soon as possible.

 

Grade Components

Class Participation (not Attendance)                  10 %

Homework                                                          20 %                      

Midterm Examination                                         30 %

Final Examination                                               40 %

 

Course Outline

 

● Introduction (1 week)

What is Integration?

The Meaning of the European Integration

The Origins and Motivations of the European Integration Process          

 

● The Historical Context (3 weeks)

The Community Idea, and The Founding Treaties 

Stages of European Integration, The Hague Summit 

Treaty Framework, The Single European Act

The treaty on the European Union

The Main Elements and the Significance of the Lisbon Treaty                                           

 

● Theoretical Framework (2 weeks)

Neofunctionalism and the Concept of Spillover

Intergovernmentalism and Liberal Intergovernmentalism

                                               

● Institutions of the European Union (2 weeks)

The Functions and Effects of the European Commission

The European Council and the Council of the European Union

The Evolution, Power and the Influence of the European Parliament

The Composition, Structure and the Procedures of the European Court of Justice of th European Union

The European Court of Auditors and Other Institutions

 

 

● Decision-Making in the European Union (1 week)

Ordinary Legislative Procedure

Open Method of Coordination

 

● Some Policies of the European Integration (2 weeks)

The Enlargement Process

The European Union's Foreign, Security and Defense Policies

Economic and Monetary Union

 

● Some Issues and Debates (1 week)

The Euro Crisis

Brexit    

 

● The Future of the EU and the European Integration Process ​(1 week)

Scenarios on the Future of the EU