Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Foreign Policy of the European Union
Course Code
SZF_016
Branch of Science
Political science
ECTS
4.00
Target Audience
Political Science
LQF
Level 6
Study Type And Form
Full-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Aleksandra Palkova
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
The course aims to help students learn and understand the practical functioning of the European Union, EU foreign policy, security dynamics, as well as the decision-making process of the European Union, for example, in the case of sanctions. In addition, the course will also take into account theoretical explanations of EU development and historical development of EU foreign policy.
Preliminary Knowledge
The course “Foreign Policy of the European Union” is intended for Bachelor’s students to develop a deeper understanding of EU foreign policy, functioning and administrative institutions.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.By mastering the study course students obtain knowledge about: 1. foreign policy of the European Union (hereinafter – EU); 2. the functioning of the EU; 3. administrative bodies of the EU.
Skills
1.During the study course, students will acquire the skills to analyse the processes taking place in the EU, i.e. to evaluate the decision-making process and involvement of different institutions in joint decision-making in a reasoned manner.
Competences
1.As a result of mastering the study course, the competence to predict EU foreign policy processes – in standard and non-standard situations (e.g. in the context of the Russian war in Ukraine) – will be developed in students.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Individual work |
-
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-
|
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Timely submission of essays (2 pages) is a mandatory part of the course. Essays and reports must be submitted electronically in PDF format in the online system. The essay can be written and submitted in Latvian or English. All essays must be submitted before the examination begins.
One of the main conditions of the course is attending seminars. If the student did not participate or was not active in the seminar, the student can submit a substitute essay – a 3-page essay on the topic of the seminar. This essay must be uploaded to e-learning before the examination begins. All seminar documents must be submitted before the examination begins.
One essay-type question in e-learning should be answered the two-hour online examination. All available materials can used during the examination and it can be passed outside university premises.
Readings and lectures are complementary and do not replace each other.
If students wish to receive individual, detailed comments on their essays/report, this should be clearly indicated on the cover page of the written work submitted.
To assess the overall quality of the study course, the student must complete the course evaluation questionnaire on the Student Portal.
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Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
The objective of the research report (individual research paper) is to develop analytical skills, so it cannot be descriptive. It should be written on the given topic, not a general topic. It is not an essay and is not designed for expressing an opinion. The student should provide valid data and evidence to support the arguments. The report (individual project) consists of three essential elements: (1) Defining the main problem of the topic, raise it, and specify solutions (in the introduction); (2) Identification, evaluation and adaptation of at least three arguments of the problem (in the discussion); (3) Offering own conclusions, opinions and recommendations (conclusions).
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2.
Examination |
-
|
-
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|
The final assessment consists of the sum of all assessments obtained during the course, which come from the cumulative assessment of the following elements:
1. active participation in lectures and seminar – 30%;
2. essays – 20%;
3. research report – 30%;
4. exam – 20%.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
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Lecture
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Modality
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Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU and its participation in international organisations.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Evaluation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and participation of the EU in international organisations.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introductory lecture. Euro-Atlantic values and integration theories.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
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2
|
Topics
|
EU abilities in the new geopolitical order.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Evaluation of the European Neighbourhood Policy and participation of the EU in international organisations.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Shaping the EU’s foreign and security policy in the modern geopolitical environment.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU security instruments and NATO.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
History of the EU’s common foreign and security policy, EU treaties.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Simulation game.
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-
Lecture
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Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
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Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU institutions and power instruments.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
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Topics
|
European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Dimension and Russia.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
Shaping the EU’s foreign and security policy in the modern geopolitical environment.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
European Neighbourhood Policy, the Eastern Dimension and Russia.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
History of the EU’s common foreign and security policy, EU treaties.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
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Topics
|
Main aspects of the foreign policy of the European Union.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU security instruments and NATO.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU expansion and security matters.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU abilities in the new geopolitical order.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
European Neighbourhood Policy, the Southern Dimension and other world.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
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|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Other
|
2
|
Topics
|
EU relations with the United States of America (USA) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
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Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
4.00
Contact hours:
40 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Visa literatūra ir angļu valodā un piemērota gan latviešu, gan angļu plūsmas studentiem
2.
“European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP),” European External Action Service''
3.
Adrianne Héritier. 2017. The increasing institutional power of the European Parliament and EU policy making. Working Paper 01/2017. European University Institute.
4.
Businesseurope. EU - China relations: engaging systemic rival. ECFR. War and sovereignty: How the EU can enhance its ability to act.
5.
Lucy Hatton. Theories of European Integration, Civitas Institute for the Study of Civil Society.
6.
EEAS. 2021. The European Union and the United States.
7.
EEAS. 2022. EU trade relations with China. Facts, figures and latest developments.
8.
EEAS. 2022. EU trade relations with the United States. Facts, figures and latest developments.
9.
EEAS. 2022. EU - China Relations factsheet.
10.
EEAS. Strategic compass.
11.
EU Institutions and bodies.
12.
European Commission. 2020. How does the EU make the impossible happen?
13.
European Commission. Foreign affairs and security policy.
14.
Florence Gaub. “The southern neighbours – two decades.” No: Florence Gaub, Nicu Popescu. The EU neighbours 1995-2015: shades of grey, Challot Papers No.136, European Union Institute for Security Studies, December 2015., 13-39.
15.
Jørgensen, Knud. 2015. The study of European foreign policy: Trends and advances.
16.
Matthias Hartwig, Michalis Ioannidis, and Achilles Skordas. 2020. Hard Power Europe.
17.
Shared Vision. Common Action: A Stronger Europe. A Global Strategy for the European Union’s Foreign And Security Policy. June 2016, European Union.
18.
Stanislav Secrieru, Sinikukka Saari. “Shifting ground. How megatrends are shaping the eastern neighbourhood.” No: Stanislav Secrieru, Sinikukka Saari (Eds.) The Eatern Partnership. Looking back, thinking ahead. Chaillot Paper / 153 July 2019. European Union Institute for Security Studies, 7-27.
19.
Stefan Lehne. 2022. Making EU Foreign Policy Fit for a Geopolitical World.