EUROPEAN INTEGRATION: PS #171
Prof. Eleanor Zeff
Spring, 2001
Class #229: Meredith
Class: TR: 11-12:15
Off. Hrs. TR: 12:30-2:00, 4-5
Off. Tel # 271-3102
Off. Meredith #209
eleanor.zeff@drake.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
For centuries, European nations have wavered between their desire for independence
and their need to unite and combine their resources. Since the days of the Roman
Empire and Charlemagne, Europe has made several attempts at unification. These periods
of integration have alternated with periods of intense nationalism and frequent wars
which culminated in World War II. In order to break this pattern and avoid future
wars, post WWII Europe began to make a concerted effort to work together again. Several
separate organizations developed including the Council of Europe, NATO and most notably,
the European Union (EU). This course will focus on all of these attempts at unification
but especially on the organization and philosophy of the European Union.
The European Union (EU) is a new type of international organization which asks
its members to give up some of their sovereignty in return for a closer union. People
are calling the EU a "supranational" rather than an "international"
organization. Because the EU is structured in such a new way, the general public
is often confused about the powers and the role of the European Union, especially
as these powers relate to the individual member states. In this course we will study
the overall organization of the EU, and also look at how EU policy is translated
in different national settings. Through discussion and readings, we hope to investigate
and clarify some of the issues and theories. During the semester, we will hold three
in-class European Union simulations in order to understand how the institutions of
the EU function. Students will also have the opportunity to attend the Midwest Model
European Union Simulation in Indianapolis at IUPUI, April 19-22.
REQUIRED READINGS:
McCormick, The European Union, 2nd. ed. Westview, 1999.
Zeff and Pirro, The European Union and the Member States, Lynne Rienner, 2001.
Van Oudenaren, Uniting Europe, Rowman and Littlefield, 2000.
Nelson, The European Union, 2nd ed. Lynne Rienner, 1998.
On Reserve in the Library: Scott, Political Science Student Writer's Manuel, 3rd.
ed., Prentice-Hall, 2000.
Regular reading of The NY Times, the Wash. Post, the Christian Science Monitor, the
Economist, Europe and/or the Nation, etc. is strongly recommended!
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1. Participation = 20%: Both written and oral participation will be an important
element of your grade. From time to time, I will ask you to write a short statement
about the readings at the beginning of class in order to begin discussions. While
these statements will not be graded, they will be counted as part of the participation
component. There will also be three Simulations, and you must contribute orally to
these discussions by presenting coherent and logical arguments. You will also be
required to present opening and concluding statements for each Simulation discussion.
Once or twice, for your Simulation reports, I may ask you to exchange papers with
your classmates to critique their writing. Any more than 2 unexcused absenses will
result in a lowered grade. If you are not in class, you are obviously not participating.
2. Midterm Exam = 20%: Tuesday, February 27, 2000. This exam will be half
short answer and half longer essay.
3. Final Exam = 20%: This will be a take-home essay exam. Seniors with an
A at the end of the semester do not need to take this exam (with my permission).
4. Simulations and Reports (4) = 40%: Each student will represent one country
which we will choose during the second day of class. There will be three Simulations,
and you must write a report for each one. You may write these reports as Issue Reaction
Papers, Position Papers or Policy Analysis Papers as discussed in Scott (on Reserve
in the Library), Chapters 11, 12 and 14. Refer to the Scott book for conducting your
research and for writing required citations and bibliographies. Be sure to cite accurately
and fully as plagiarism is a serious offense. Each simulation paper should be no
more than 4 pages and should clearly state the problems each simulation issue poses
for your country as well as the problems your country faced while it participated
in the Simulation. There will be three separate topics, one for each of the three
Simulations. Each Simulation will take 2 class periods to complete, and as representatives
of your countries, you must reach some conclusions at the end of each of the three
simulations. Every student is responsible for a paper which discusses the problems/solutions
from the point of view of the country he/she is representing, and the leaders of
the discussion are responsible for writing up an EU report on the results of each
simulation. The 4th report ( 2 pages) will occur early in the semester and will entail
researching biographical material about the leader (prime minister or Commission/Council
head) of your country, about the particular relationship of your country to the European
Union, and about any problems or special needs of your country, vis-à-vis
the EU. The Simulation Reports are due on the class day following the last day of
the Simulation. The profile report is due Feb. 8. I will give handouts before each
simulation.
Because of the number of students in this class and because the EU consists
of only 15 Member states, there may have to be 2 students to cover some of the larger
countries and only one student for the smaller countries. We also need a Romano Prodi
(Head of the European Commission) to lead the discussion during the simulations.
If necessary we can have 2 people fill this role. The Prime Minister of Sweden will
also be taking a leadership role as Sweden has the Presidency during the current
6 month period. We may also have a few students representing some of the applicant
countries such as Hungary and the Czech Republic. Each Simulation will take two days,
and there will be three different simulations on three different topics. If there
are 2 people covering one country, you will take turns being the Prime Minister of
your country and the Foreign Minister. In real EU conferences, the Foreign Minister
often actively consults with the Prime Minister during debates. While the Prime Ministers
present their opening arguments, etc., the Foreign Ministers will evaluate the discussion
and be prepared to switch positions on the second day of debate.
Simulation Topics and Dates:
Report on country leader and country specifics: Feb 6 and Feb 8. To be handed
in, Feb 8
Simulation #1 = February 20 and 22: Topic = Enlargement:
Simulation #2 = March 27 and 29: Topics = EMU, employment and environment
Simulation #3 = April 24 and 26: Topic = Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP):
Your Simulation papers are due on the first class day after each simulation.
Useful Web sites: (www.eurunion.org); (www. ecsa.org/eusims.htm)
COURSE OUTLINE:
January 16-25: Introduction :
McCormick, Part 1, pp. 1-95.
Nelson, pp. 1-84.
Van Oudenaren, Chs. 1 and 2
Jan 30- Feb 22: Enlargement and Institutions:
McCormick, pp. 99-190,
Nelson, Parts 2 and 3
Van Oudenaren, Chs. 3,7 and 10
1st Simulation: Feb 20, 22.
Midterm Exam: Feb. 27
Mar 1-29: Policies and EMU:
McCormick, pp.193-285.
Van Oudenaren, Chs. 4, 5 and 6
Zeff, Pirro, Chs. 1-6
2nd Simulation: March 27, 29
April 3-17: More Policies: CFSP:
Van Oudenaren, Ch.9
Zeff, Pirro, Chs. 7-11
3rd Simulation: April 24 and 26. No class on Ap.19.
April 25-May 4: How states adapt to the EU:
Zeff, Pirro, Chs. 12-14,
Van Oudenaren, Chs. 8 and 11
Use the Scott book as needed when you write your papers.
Use the Zeff, Pirro book when you research your leaders and
countries so that you know how they stand on the issues.
Goals and purposes of the program in Politics:
1. To produce a liberally educated citizen who is fluent in the language of
politics and political analysis.
2. To foster the development of the students' abilities to think, speak, and
write clearly, analytically, and critically.
3. To model and inculcate the values of personal responsibility, intellectual
honesty and rigor, and respect for people of diverse backgrounds and views.
4. To encourage students to accept and rise to the challenge of mastering difficult
tasks and subject matters.
5. To provide students with the educational foundation for both citizenship
in a democratic society and successful training in a job, in a graduate school, or
in a professional school.
STUDENTS PARTICIPATING IN THE INDIANAPOLIS SIMULATION:
The Midwest Model European Union Simulation will take place in Indianapolis
from April 19 (Thursday) to April 22 (early Sunday morning). We will depart from
the Meredith parking lot at 5:00 am on Thursday morning. It is about a 7 to 8 hour
drive. We will leave Indianapolis at around 5:00 pm on Saturday, which gets us into
Des Moines around 2:00 am. on Sunday. We will stop for dinner on the way home and
breakfast on the way there.
Students going to this Simulation (we need to decide soon) will need to prepare
some position statements and a few other written documents to send into IUPUI's Political
Science department before we go to the Simulation. We will also need to meet at least
once a week, outside of class, in late March and April. Sunday evening in the cafeteria
is usually a good time and place, but we can confirm these plans later. Students
receive one credit for participating in the Simulation and traveling to Indianapolis.
More details will follow. It is truly a fantastic experience. I have some students
who went last year and want to go again and some who hope to attend this year who
were not able to go last year when they took the class. We will have more subsidies
this year so the cost of going will be lower than usual.