Europe and the world: current challenges

Teacher(s)

Gijs Anne-Sophie;

Language

French

Prerequisites

None.

Main themes

In this course, we aim to examine Europe's position and role in the world, in the context of the socio-economic and political changes within the continent, but also of the geopolitical and macroeconomic changes in global governance at the beginning of the 21st century.
The classes will be built around topical case studies, illustrating the new challenges facing the EU and its Member States, in their relations with their 'traditional' strategic partners (the US), their interaction with 'emerging' (BRICS) and 'developing' countries (in Asia, Latin America and Africa), and in their relations with their neighbours (Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, the Maghreb and the Middle East).
In order to encourage a critical approach to these issues, the course will provide a historical perspective as well as current political and economic analysis. It will give particular importance to sources and accounts coming from partners and commentators outside the EU.
We will analyse these dynamics with reference to both bilateral settings (e.g. the negotiation of a trade agreement), and multilateral contexts (e.g. NATO, the WTO, the G20, etc.).

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	By taking a broad view and a comparative approach, the overall aim is for students to learn to examine critically the role and actions of the EU and its Member States in the world, from the colonial period until the current global governance system.  They should gain an understanding of the political, economic and institutional factors influencing the EU's external action ' and how this is seen outside Europe ' by unravelling the internal and external factors at play over time.    The course will encourage students to consider different scales of values and viewpoints when analysing a particular topical situation. By doing so, it aims to provide them with the necessary theoretical and practical know-how to move away from a 'Eurocentric' perspective when working on media material and new sources of information. They will then see with fresh eyes the current challenges facing the EU and European countries in their relations with the rest of the world.

Teaching methods

Lectures.

Evaluation methods

Written examination.

Faculty or entity

EURO