Who or What is the European Union?
Week 3, 11-16 hrs
 |
Philipps-Universität Marburg |
„Who or what is the European Union?“ will give an understanding to
people from all over the world of the formation and current daily
politics of the community consisting of 27 European States.
Thematic structure:
- Formation of the European Union as envisaged after 1945
- The impact of the German-French relationship on the European consolidation dynamic
- Different methods of enlargement, especially the East and South-East enlargements of 2004 and 2007
- Further topics will be today's potential of the 500 million producers and consumers, it's position in the world economy and world politics
- An analysis of the chances of the EU, with emphasis on the possible
restructuring of the circumstances of the poorer and richer states.
This will prepare for further courses offered at ISU Marburg.
Aims:
At the end of the week students would have received an impression in the new constellation of economy and political power balances in the world especially after 1990 – with a special focus on Europe. It will be working out that the process of European consolidation is equally determined by chances and risks. Wherever possible it will be obviated to get a monolithic perspective on European developments.
Students should class the EU better with the political everyday life. Students will work with learned institutional structures and the value of the former almost 60 years to estimate the positives in their everyday life.
Method:
Interactive seminars will form the basis for teaching. Questionnaires and short texts will establish a discourse which will seek to enhance and tap into the international and intercultural origin of the participants.
Assessment:
Active participation along with short presentations will form the basis of assessing the individual’s performance.
Bibliography:
The content will be used from recently revised textbook appropriate to the topic (for the European University of Applied Sciences in Hamburg) and can be found here.
Resumé of PD Dr. Johannes M. Becker
* Since 2004 coordinator of the Center for Conflict Studies at the University of Marburg
* Since 1993 lecturer at the ESB (European School of Business)/Advanced Technical College for Technology Reutlingen
* Since 1992 research and teachings i.e. on the EU and the German unification process
* 1990 – 1992 Visiting Professor at the Humboldt University of Berlin
* 1985 – 1990 Habilitation about the French Security Policy under François Mitterrand’s government at the Universities of Paris and Marburg
* 1980 – 1986 Dissertation bout the Security-Political Relations of France and Germany
* 1973 – 1980 Doctorate Studies in Political Science, Geography and Sport Science at the Universities of Marburg
* Diploma and state examination (1980 resp. 1981)
* 1971 – 1973 military service
* 1971 Diploma from German Secondary School (qualifying for University admission or Matriculation)
* 1952 born in Marienheide/Rhineland
