Making the European Union: a future oriented narrative
Description | This upper-level course offers a broad overview of the European integration project, provides a deep insight into its multifaceted history, and scrutinizes its future. After briefly reviewing a few pre-WW2 trends, the focus is on the post-war period: from the first treaties (Paris 1951, Rome 1957 Rome) to their first revision (Milan 1985-86) and the 1992 Maastricht shift (the European Union; the euro) to more recent steps (2007: Constitution, 2012-16: Banking Union, 2016-2020: Brexit, 2020: the call for a Health Union) and the ever postponed, but never abandoned dream of a Political Union. The course reconstructs the punctuated trajectory of European integration and documents its evolution over time, whilst also inviting reflections on current trends and future scenarios. This class is a great opportunity to see how a history-making project works and, thus, a fascinating exercise in teaching/learning history with an eye towards the future. |
Learning outcomes | By the end of the semester, students will be able to accurately describe European integration: chronological frame, the role of the founding fathers/leading actors, pertinent narrative; explain how particular national and/or broad global facts may shape European integration history; apply/adapt general historical concepts and specific field theories (economic, political, social, etc.) to the peculiar case of European integration; g. reflect on the making of history as a future-oriented project and imagine/foresee a scenario for the future of EU/Europe. |
Language of instruction | English |
Course type | Lecture |
Credits | 4 US credits - 6 ECTS |
Time | twice a week; 1h 45min each class |