UCL - History of European construction

[HIST2440]

[22.5h] 5 credits

This course is taught in the 1st semester.

Teacher(s): Michel Dumoulin

Language: French

Level: Second

Aims
Main themes

Aims

By the end of this course, the student should be able to delineate the functioning of European institutions as well as the stakes of European construction, not only in their immediacy but also, and especially, in the historical dynamics proper to them.

Main themes

Putting the European idea into long-term perspective should help us distance ourselves from what is too often a teleological interpretation of European construction. The distinction to be maintained between Europe as thought and Europe in action is hence fundamental.
As for Europe in action, the role of institutions is obviously essential. But it should not hide the Europe of men, nor the Europe of States. So these themes will be stressed, as well as the role of contingency in the dynamics of European construction.