The course is designed for students of political science with a special interest in the European Union. It is an advanced course meant for master level students who wish to widen their understanding about the EU’s internal and external hegemonic powers.
We are going to examine a number of elements and issues relevant to the EU as a hegemonic actor. In the first part of the course, the focus will be placed on different concepts such as EU presence, EU actorness, EU as a normative or civil power. The second part will turn more onto a number of policy areas where the Union is active, such as economic, trade or development policies. In the third part of the course, we will take a closer look on the EU performances as a hegemonic actor, i.e. of some of its institutions, on its ‘near abroad’ in the East (ENP) or on the ‘Nordic dimension’.
The
guiding question throughout the seminar will be whether or not and if, to what
extent, the EU can be conceived of and considered a hegemonic power in and
beyond Europe.