INTR 4036: International Relations - Europe (Ms N Zahringer)

This unit will provide an introduction into the European Union, a fascinating example of regional integration that currently embraces 27 states, unifying Western and Eastern Europe. The EU's pursuit of economic and political integration raises interesting questions such as: Why and how did European integration occur? How is the EU governed? Why does the EU continue to pursue a policy of enlargement? What security threats does does the EU face and how theyare they addressed? What differentiates the EU from other regional organisations? What place does the EU hold in the international system? What will the future of the EU be? Students will gain valuable insights into these and other issues, with the two theoretical schools of neofunctionalism and intergovernmentalism providing the framework for a critical analysis.