EU421      Half Unit
Policy-Making in the European Union

This information is for the 2017/18 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Eiko Thielemann

Availability

This course is compulsory on the MSc in EU Politics and MSc in EU Politics (LSE and Sciences Po). This course is available on the MPA in European Policy-Making, MPA in International Development, MPA in Public Policy and Management, MPA in Public and Economic Policy, MPA in Public and Social Policy, MPA in Social Impact, MSc in Environmental Policy and Regulation, MSc in European Social Policy, MSc in Media and Communications (Media and Communications Governance), MSc in Political Economy of Europe, MSc in Political Economy of Europe (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and Peking University), MSc in Public Administration and Government (LSE and Peking University), MSc in Public Policy and Administration, MSc in Public Policy and Administration (Research), MSc in Social Policy (European and Comparative Social Policy) and Master of Public Administration. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit.

Pre-requisites

A solid knowledge of the role and functions of EU institutions is required.

Course content

This course offers the theoretically informed study of the EU policy-making across a selection of key issue areas. The principal aim of the course is to provide a detailed knowledge of how national and EU institutions interact in European policy making. To achieve this, the course is divided into two parts. The first introduces principal theories of policy making along three core policy dimensions: agenda setting, decision making and policy implementation. In the second part the conceptual insights gained will be used to analyse a number of substantive policy areas. These will typically include: the single market, cohesion policies, immigration and asylum policies, Common Agricultural Policy, Economic and Monetary Union, Justice and Home Affairs and EU foreign policy.

Teaching

10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the LT. 1 hour of lectures and 1 hour and 30 minutes of seminars in the ST.

Students on this course will have a reading week in Week 6, in line with departmental policy.

Indicative reading

H Wallace, M Pollack, & A Young, Policy-Making in the European Union;  S Hix &.and B. Hoyland, The Political System of the European Union; M Pollack, The Engines of Integration: Delegation, Agency and Agenda Setting in the European Union; J J Richardson & S Mazey, European Union: Power and Policy-making. 

Assessment

Exam (100%, duration: 2 hours) in the main exam period.

Key facts

Department: European Institute

Total students 2016/17: 75

Average class size 2016/17: 15

Controlled access 2016/17: Yes

Value: Half Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication

Course survey results

(2013/14 - 2015/16 combined)

1 = "best" score, 5 = "worst" score

The scores below are average responses.

Response rate: 79%

Question

Average
response

Reading list (Q2.1)

2.2

Materials (Q2.3)

2

Course satisfied (Q2.4)

1.9

Lectures (Q2.5)

2

Integration (Q2.6)

1.9

Contact (Q2.7)

1.8

Feedback (Q2.8)

1.8

Recommend (Q2.9)

Yes

68%

Maybe

26%

No

6%