This course examines politics and society of the European Union (EU). Students will learn how Europe’s history shaped its political systems - why certain parties became popular, and continue to do so, while others lost support. The class will also ask the question, “who are the Europeans?” - questions on national identity, belonging, and what it means to be part of a supranational community. Finally, the course looks into major social issues that are actively discussed across EU countries.
The course is divided into three modules:
Module 1 (Classes 1-6) covers the historical foundations of European integration and identity.
Module 2 (Classes 7-11) touches on the major political forces shaping the Europe of today - party systems, populism and value change.
Module 3 (Classes 12-15) visits the influences of current social debates: immigration, welfare, gender, and current EU crises
- Teacher: Cherry Amor Dugtong Yap