GV251     
Government, Politics and Public Policy in the European Union

This information is for the 2022/23 session.

Teacher responsible

Dr Eiko Thielemann

Availability

This course is available on the BA in Social Anthropology, BSc in History and Politics, BSc in International Relations, BSc in International Social and Public Policy with Politics, BSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics, BSc in Politics and Economics, BSc in Politics and History, BSc in Politics and International Relations, BSc in Politics and Philosophy, BSc in Social Anthropology and BSc in Social Policy with Government. This course is available as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit and to General Course students.

Pre-requisites

Students must have completed Introduction to Political Science (GV101).

Course content

The course is divided into two parts; (i) Government and Politics: the EU as a political system, the Council, the Commission and the European Parliament, the Court of Justice and Judicial politics, public opinion and EP elections, parties and Europe, interest representation; (ii) Public Policy. Policy sessions usually include: the policy-making process, the Single Market, budgetary policies, redistributive policies, EMU, asylum, migration and refugee policies, social and employment policies, external relations policies, and others.

Teaching

This course is delivered through a combination of classes and lectures totalling a minimum of 41 hours across the Michaelmas, Lent and Summer Terms. This course includes reading weeks in Week 6 of both the MT and LT.

Formative coursework

Two essays per term; students' preparedness for the examinations will depend on this written work and on private reading.

Indicative reading

H Wallace, M Pollack & A Young (Eds), Policy-Making in the European Union, 8th edn (2020); N Nugent, Government and Politics of the European Union, 8th edn (2017); S Hix and B Hoyland, The Political System of the European Union, 3rd edn.

Assessment

Online assessment (100%) in the ST.

Online (take home) exam (100%), in the summer exam period.  Estimated amount of effort required: 3 hours in a one-week period.

 

GENERAL COURSE STUDENTS ONLY:

The Class Summary Grade for General Course students will be calculated as follows: 15% class participation, 80% formative coursework (each formative essay counts for 20%) and 5% attendance.

The Exam Grade for General Course students will be 100% online exam.

Student performance results

(2019/20 - 2021/22 combined)

Classification % of students
First 33.1
2:1 58.1
2:2 8.8
Third 0
Fail 0

Key facts

Department: Government

Total students 2021/22: 64

Average class size 2021/22: 16

Capped 2021/22: Yes (60)

Lecture capture used 2021/22: Yes (LT)

Value: One Unit

Guidelines for interpreting course guide information

Course selection videos

Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.

Personal development skills

  • Self-management
  • Problem solving
  • Communication