IWP 693A/B
(2 Credits Each)
IWP 693A: The European Union: From Homer to Hitler
(2 Credits)
This seminar considers the European Union from its inception to the present time. First, we shall focus on the idea of “Europe.” Then, we shall learn about both successful and failed historical predecessors of the EU, including such multi-ethnic entities as the Greek polis and its neighbors, as well as the Hellenistic World, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, the Holy Roman Empire/the Habsburg Empire, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Ottoman Empire, the Russian Empire, Napoleonic France, and Nazi Germany. Further, we shall study its component parts (nation-states, people, and institutions) and dominant ideologies. We shall conclude with geopolitical and ideological propositions for post-World War II Europe, in particular Communism and Trans-Atlanticism, and their main protagonists: the USSR and the USA, respectively.
The objective is to find the roots of Europe and her culture; identify the most defining moments in her history, including attempted unification drives; and examine the latest project in the light of Europe’s history and civilization.
IWP 693B: The European Union: From Coal and Steel to Now
(2 Credits)
This seminar considers the European Union from its inception to the present time. We shall examine the EU as a political entity within and without. First, we shall dwell on the initial context (historical, ideological, and geopolitical) behind the united Europe project. Second, we shall explain the evolution of EU ideology from 1945 to the present time. Third, we shall consider the member states chronologically, as they acceded, and discuss their peculiarities and similarities. Fourth, we shall scrutinize the institutional structure of the EU, its creation, growth, and transformation. Fifth, we shall explain the dynamics among various EU bureaucracies and their interaction with member states. Sixth, we shall describe the international relations of the EU, including its aspiration to global governance. Seventh, we shall look into the future to prognosticate what may happen with the EU.
The objective is to define and describe one of the most powerful supranational entities in the world and expose its inner and outer workings.
Professor
Additional Information
This course may be taken as a part of the following programs: