COURSE SYLLABUS

Spring 2006

GOVT 4396
Section 001

Selected Topics in Government and Politics: The Politics of the

European Union

Instructor: Anca Turcu Class meets: Monday

&Wednesday CN 1.120
Office: GR 3.220 3.30 PM – 4.45 PM
E-mail: anca@utdallas.edu Office Hrs: Monday & Wednesday
Office Phone : 972 883 6415 5.00 PM – 6.00 PM
(Or by appointment)

Course Overview

This class will present the evolution of the European Union from an economic agreement
regarding the joint administration of coal and steel to the influential supra-national entity it is
today. We will examine the theoretical frameworks that explain the Union’s roots and
evolution.
Students should keep in mind this fundamental question while exploring the EU during this
semester: Can we regard the EU today as the result of transnational architecture or is the
Union better defined as the outcome of conjunctures, changing international contexts and
European domestic politics?
Major themes of discussion include EU politics, economic development, institutions and
social realities as well as treaties, enlargement and regionalization-related issues.

Readings

Both books are available through the on campus and off campus bookstores. All readings
assigned for class have to be read prior to coming to class.
• Jackie Gower and Ian Thomson eds., The European Union Handbook, Second Edition,
Fitzroy Dearborn Publishers, Chicago 2002
• T.R. Reid The United States of Europe— The New Superpower and the End of American
Supremacy, First Edition, Penguin Press, New York, 2004
• Articles through UTD library resources (listed below). Please make sure you print
out the articles, don’t just browse them over the Internet. Start printing the articles
that you need to read before the first exam. Wait until you take the first exam to
print articles that you need to read for the second exam. Do the same with the
articles for the third exam. Please bring hard copies of the articles due for the day’s
readings to class.

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 Requirements

Current Developments: In order to succeed in this class you need to be aware of what is
going on in the EU and European countries. We will have a ten minutes discussion at the
beginning of each class about current developments. You can find out about these
developments from a variety of sources, all listed in this syllabus (below). I will announce
each week a particular theme you should focus on. For example, the first week of class we
will discuss the Austrian Presidency of the Council of Ministers. Since I am not clairvoyant,
we will also discuss developments that occur during that particular week without previous
notice.
Attendance: Attendance is required. Class lectures cover material that you will not be able
to find in the books. I will not provide notes for students missing class.
Class Participation: Besides interactive participation, I expect discipline in the class room.
Be courteous to others, be on time, do not leave early, unless there is a pertinent reason and
you have notified me.
Turn off all cell phones, pagers or other noisemakers before class starts. (This includes
setting your laptop’s volume on mute.)
Laptop users: make sure you are using your laptop exclusively for taking notes while in class.
Attendance and participation will make up 10% of your grade in this class.
Exams: There will be three exams and one optional cumulative final in this class. Exams
will cover material from the readings and from the lectures. Each of the exams will
constitute 15% of your exam grade.
There will be no make-up exams. Exams are scheduled well in advance so that you can
plan around these dates. If you miss one of the three midterm exams, you must take the
final (it is no longer optional). The missed 15% of your grade will be allocated over the
other exams so that each exam is worth 20% of your exam grade.
If you miss more than one exam, you will receive a zero for the additional missed exam.
There are no exceptions. If you have taken all three mid-terms, and are satisfied with your
course grade, do not take the final.
If, however, you are not satisfied with your grade, you may take the cumulative final.
Remember, the final can either raise or lower your course grade. Once you sit for any exam,
you will receive a grade for that exam. Bring picture identification to each exam.
Paper: There will be one paper assigned in this class that will constitute 30% of your final
grade. The paper topic will be announced two weeks before the due date along with
instructions for writing and turning in the paper assignment. Topics and instructions will be
handed out March 1 st. The paper will be due on March 13th.
Academic dishonesty policies will apply to all work in this class: including papers and exams.
If you have any questions about what constitutes plagiarism or concerns about your paper,
discuss them with me before you turn in the paper.

Academic Dishonesty

Academic dishonesty of any type will not be tolerated in this course. For a definition of what
constitutes academic dishonesty and university rules and regulations, go to
http://www.utdallas.edu/dept/graddean/gsPolDishonesty.htm. If you have any questions
regarding what constitutes academic dishonesty please contact me prior to the tests.

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 Disability Accommodations

The University commits a series of resources in order to accommodate people with

disabilities. If you need any kind of assistance of this type, please do not hesitate to inform
me.

Contacting the Instructor

I encourage students to contact me if they have questions, problems, or concerns. You can
contact me by official UTD e-mail (I can only answer e-mails sent by students from a UTD
account per university policy). You can also call my office or contact me in person during
office hours. If office hours are in conflict with your schedule, I am available for
appointments during the week.

Class Resources

Academic Journals:
Main periodical references (available through UTD’s library electronic journal resources):
European Journal of Political Research (EJPR)
West European Politics (WEP)
Journal of European Public Policy (JEPP)
European Law Journal (ELJ)

On-line References:
European Union Website
http://europa.eu.int/
Index of European Union-related websites
http://docs.lib.duke.edu/igo/guides/euindex.old
George Tsebeli’s Webpage:
http://www.polisci.ucla.edu/tsebelis/

Current Events Resources for Europe:

www.bbcnews.com/europe (BBC News Europe)
www.EUobserver.com
www.EUpolitix.com
http://news.ft.com/home/europe (Financial Times Europe)

WEBCT
http:// webct.utdallas.edu
You will be able to see the syllabus, updated grades and class announcements by using
WEBCT. You need to use your UTD Net ID to log in.

Grading

Please note that grades will not be shared through phone, e-mail or mail. You can log on to
WEBCT in order to find out your grades.
Also, please note that incompletes will not be given.

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Assignment Values: Grades in this course are based on the exams, the paper and
attendance and participation. If you take three exams, they will each make up 20% of your
grade. If you choose to take four exams, they will each make up 15% of your grade. The
paper will make up 30% of your grade; attendance and participation are 10% of your grade.
The most assignments you can receive credit for is four exams and one paper. The
minimum necessary to complete the course is three exams and one paper.
There will be no extra credit opportunities.

Grading Scale:
A+ (100%), A (93-99%), A-(90-92%), B+ (87-89%), B (83-86%), B- (80-82%), C+ (77-
79%), C (73-76%), C- (70-72%), D+ (67-69%), D (63-66%), D- (60-62%), F (Below 60%).

Schedule

Please note that this is a tentative schedule. Any changes will be announced in class in a
timely fashion.

Week 1: Introduction
January 9: Introduction and Overview
• No Readings
January 11: Europe at the end of World War II: Documentary
• Gower and Thomson Chapter 1
• Reid: Chapter 2

Week 2: Theories of European Integration

January 16: MLK Day- No Class
January 18: Theories of European Integration
• Gower and Thomson Chapter 3
• Reid Introduction and Chapter 1

Week 3: Treaties and Institutions (I)

January 23: Basic Treaties of the Union
• Gower and Thomson Chapter 4
• “The Role of Supranational Actors in EU Treaty Reform” Thomas Christiansen, Journal of
European Public Policy, 2002, Vol. 9, No.1
• “The great debate begins” The Economist, February 12, 2005, U.S. Edition
• “Putting the clog in” The Economist, May 21, 2005, U.S. Edition
• “Another fine mess” The Economist, May 28, 2005, U.S. Edition
January 25: Institutions (I)
• Gower and Thomson Chapter 2, pp. 16-25
• Reid Chapter 4
• “Executive Power in the European Union: the functions and limits of the Council of Ministers”
Hayes-Renshaw, F. and Wallace, H. – class handouts
• “A knight in tarnished armor; The European Commission” The Economist, October 30,
2004;
• “A way back; The European Union in crisis” The Economist, June 25, 2005

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 • “Whipping the commission into shape” Charlemagne, The Economist, November 19,
2005, U.S. Edition

Week 4: Institutions (II) and Parties in the EP

January 30: Institutions (II)
• Gower and Thomson Chapter 2 pp. 25-31
• “Who are the Masters of the Treaty?: European Governments and the European Court of Justice”
Alter, Karen; International Organization, Vol. 52, No.1 (Winter 1998)
• “Home Away from Home”, Wiser Michael, The Atlantic Monthly Oct 2001, Vol. 288,
Issue 3
• “A crucible—or a zoo?” Charlemagne, The Economist, July 24, 2004, U.S. Edition
• “The let's pretend parliament” Charlemagne, The Economist, October16, 2004, U.S.
Edition
February 1: Parties in the EP
• “Political Career Paths and the European Parliament” by Susan Scarrow, Legislative
Studies Quarterly, Vol. 22 No. 2 (May 1997)
• “European Parliament and Supranational Party System” Amie Kreppel, UTD Library
online resources, Ch. 4 and Ch. 8

Week 5: Review and Exam

February 6: Catch-up and Review
February 8: Exam #1

Week 6: EU Policies
February 13: Policies (I) Agriculture, Competition, Environment
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 11, 13, 16
• Reid Ch 4
February 15: Policies (II) Social and Cohesion
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 14, 15;
• Reid Ch. 6

Week 7: The Single Market Economic and Monetary Union

February 20: Economic Integration and the Single Market
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 8, 9;
• Reid Ch. 3
February 22 EMU and the EU Budget
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 10, 12;
• “Reforming Economic Governance in Europe” Paola Subacchi, International Affairs Vol.
81, No.4, July 2005
• “Cries and gestures; The European Union summit” The Economist, December 24, 2005,
U.S. Edition

Week 8: European Enlargement

February 27: EU 25-27
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 7

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 • “The End of Enlargement?” The Economist, July 16 2005, U.S. edition
• “European Union Enlargement to the East” Kucera, Rudolf; Pontuso, James;
Perspectives on Political Science, Summer2005, Vol. 34 No. 3
• “From Luxembourg to Helsinki: Turkey, the politics of EU enlargement” Rumford, Chris
Contemporary Politics December 2000, Vol.6 Issue 4
March 1: Regionalism and Regional Policies Handout Instructions for Paper
• “Europe's rebellious regions. The Economist, November 15, 2003
• “Drowning in a sea of structural funds?” The Economist, March 29 2003
• “Regionalism in the EU” Downs, William; European Integration, Vol.24 No. 3 (2002)
• Examining and Explaining the Northern League's ‘U-Turn’ from Europe” Chari, Raj;
Government and Opposition, Summer 2004, Vol. 39, No. 3

Spring Break: March 06-March 11

Week 9: Review and Exam

March 13: Catch-up and Review Paper Due
March 15: Exam #2

Week 10: The EU as Superpower

March 20: EU-US Relations; EU- Russia Relations; EU and World Trade
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 24, 25, 26;
• Reid Ch.5
March 22: EU Foreign and Defense Policy
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 22 , 23;
• Reid Ch 7

Week 11: Euroskepticism and Democratic Deficit

March 27: Manifestations of Euroskepticism
• Gower and Thompson Ch. 6
• “Contemporary Euroskepticism in the party systems of the European Union candidate states of
Central and Eastern Europe.” Taggart, Paul; Journal of Political Research, January
2004, Vol. 43. Issue 1
• “’Dark Matter’: Institutional Constraints and the Failure of Party-based Euroskepticism in
Germany”: Lees, Charles. Political Studies, June 2002, Vol. 50 Issue 2
March 29: The Democratic Deficit
• Gower and Thompson Ch 5
• “Analyzing Structured Paths of Lobbying Behavior: Why Discussing the Involvement of 'Civil
Society' Does not Solve the EU's Democratic Deficit.” Michalowitz, Irina. Journal of
European Integration, Jun2004, Vol. 26 Issue 2
• “Europe's 'Democratic Deficit': The Question of Standards.” Majone, Giandomenico.
European Law Journal, March 1998, Vol. 4 Issue 1

Week 12: Towards a Pan-European State?

April 3: EU Law at the National Level and Supranational Cooperation
• Gower and Thompson18, 19

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 • “Immediate Effect of Community Law in the New Member States: Is there a Place for a
Consistent Doctrine?” Kaleda, Saulius European Law Journal, January 2004, Vol. 10
Issue 1
April 5: Right and Interest Representation
• Gower and Thompson 20
• “The European Charter of Fundamental Rights A Changed Political Opportunity Structure and
its Normative Consequences” Engel, Christoph; European Law Journal, June 2001, Vol.
7 Issue 2

Week 13: Europe: Quo Vadis?

April 10: Public Opinion and Current Challenges
• Gower and Thompson 21
• Reid Ch. 8
April 12: The EU of the Future
• Gower and Thompson 29
• Reid Ch.9

Week 14: Catch-up and Review Exam 3

April 17: Catch-up and Review
April 19: Exam #3

Week 15: Exam #3 Pick-up & Final Exam

April 26: Exam #3 Pick-up GR 3.220;
Final Exam: 2.00 PM Friday, April 28th