IR40B Half Unit
The EU in the World
This information is for the 2025/26 session.
Course Convenor
Prof Karen Smith
Availability
This course is available on the MSc in European and International Politics and Policy, MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Bocconi), MSc in European and International Politics and Policy (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Affairs (LSE and Peking University), MSc in International Relations, MSc in International Relations (LSE and Sciences Po), MSc in International Relations (Research), MSc in Political Science (Global Politics) and MSc in Theory and History of International Relations. This course is available with permission as an outside option to students on other programmes where regulations permit. This course uses controlled access as part of the course selection process.
All International Relations (IR4) optional courses at LSE are Controlled Access and require an application via LfY. Students must include a statement in their LfY application of no more than 200 words explaining their interest in the course and its relevance to their academic and career goals.
Application deadline: 12:00 noon, Friday 26 September 2025.
Notification of outcome: by 12:00 noon, Monday 29 September 2025.
After this date, students should consult the MSc Course Availability Spreadsheet for remaining spaces on IR4-level courses.
For further details, see the LSE Selecting Courses webpage in the first instance or contact IR.Programmes@lse.ac.uk only if necessary.
All students are required to obtain permission from the Teacher Responsible by completing the online application on LSE for You. Admission is not guaranteed.
This course has a limited number of places (it is controlled access). In previous years we have been able to provide places for most students that apply but that may not continue to be the case.
Requisites
Additional requisites:
Some basic knowledge of International Relations as an academic discipline is desirable, together with some acquaintance with the general evolution of world politics over the last one hundred years.
Course content
The development of the external activities of the European Union, since 1957, including the development of European Political Cooperation and the Common Foreign and Security Policy, and trade and development policy. The relationship between the member states and these external activities, in particular the impact of the evolution of EU institutions and policies on national foreign policies. Relations between the EU and non-EU states and regions, including the United States, Russia, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Teaching
10 hours of lectures and 15 hours of seminars in the Autumn Term.
This course has a reading week in Week 6 of Autumn Term.
Formative assessment
Students are expected to submit one 1,500-word essay in answer to a past exam question, to be marked by seminar leaders. The formative essay provides students with an opportunity to engage critically with key readings on course topics, and to receive constructive feedback to support their preparation for the summative e-Exam.
Students will be expected to deliver at least one group presentation in answer to a seminar question. The group presentation enables students to engage critically with course material and develop the skills needed to communicate arguments effectively in the summative e-Exam.
Indicative reading
- Sieglinde Gstöhl and Simon Schunz, eds, The External Action of the European Union, Macmillan, 2021
- Amelia Hadfield, Ian Manners, and Richard Whitman, eds, Foreign Policies of EU Member States, Routledge 2017
- Christopher Hill, Michael Smith, and Sophie Vanhoonacker (eds), International Relations and the European Union, 4th edition, OUP, 2023
- Stephan Keukeleire and Tom Delreux, The Foreign Policy of the European Union, 3rd edition,Palgrave, 2022
- Karen E. Smith, European Union Foreign Policy in a Changing World, 3rd edition, Polity Press,2014
Assessment
Exam (90%), duration: 120 Minutes in the January exam period
Course participation (10%)
Course participation will consist of contributions to class discussions and a class presentation.
Key facts
Department: International Relations
Course Study Period: Autumn Term
Unit value: Half unit
FHEQ Level: Level 7
CEFR Level: Null
Total students 2024/25: Unavailable
Average class size 2024/25: Unavailable
Controlled access 2024/25: NoCourse selection videos
Some departments have produced short videos to introduce their courses. Please refer to the course selection videos index page for further information.
For this course, please see the following link/s:
Watch a short introductory video on this course http://www.lse.ac.uk/internationalRelations/video/IR416-EUW-video.aspx