Theories of the European Integration 1300-THEI-KPP

European integration is a phenomenon significance of which is inarguable even for its opponents. Its practical and objective character as a socio-cultural process is coupled with its unique features. Thus, since its beginning, scientists have tried to explain it which brought out coining of several theories.
These social science concepts serve a couple of purposes. Before all, to clarify what the process actually is, to point out its features, elements, nature, regularities (or even laws) of its development. It highlights their explanatory and descriptive character. Thereby we may assume that by mentioned theories scientists try to explain a constituent element of our reality.
On the other hand, theories do not determine goals of the process neither they design desired situations. That is reserved for politicians, political thinkers, and philosophers. If they did, theirs authors would betray the very essence of scientific activity: a virtue of impartiality and objectivity. Nevertheless, theories may serve to choose such paths and actions which allows us to diminish risks of a failure. Thus they provide us with valuable and practically useful knowledge and advise us against making doubtful paces. Somehow they help us keep our eyes open on the nature of the process.
Character of the process determine characteristic of theories. Especially, its complexity makes theories quite ample. On the other hand they are of interdisciplinary character: they combine elements borrowed from various branches of social sciences.
Finally, theories do not create themselves. They are effects of intentional intellectual effort. Their authors live in specific societies and represents standards of their mother cultures. We may then assume that theories are not coined in a vacuum. Since that they reflect characteristics of times and places of their origin. They show us a lot about mentality, perception, needs, fears, hopes, and expectations of generation their authors belonged to. Consequently, we may trace an adequacy and linkage between every theory and a stages of development of the integration process. Moreover, we may risk to say that every phase of the process has its theory.
Passing time falsifies each theory and makes scientists create additional one. Every new is formulated also on base of element derived from old ones. It leads us to a figure of two interdependent currents: the first is facts, the second – scientific concepts. Thus analysis of theories allows us to understand the process.

- basic notions: integration, the European integration (its features and stages), theory, concept, ideology (2 h)
- functionalism (D. Mitrany) (2 h)
- federalism (H. Brugmans, F. Cardis, A. Spinelli, J. Monnet) (2 h)
- transactionalism (K.W. Deutsch) (2 h)
- neofunctionalism (E.B. Haas) (2 h)
- liberal intergovernmentalism (2 h)
- institutionalism (2 h)
- multi-level governance (2 h)
- constructivism (2 h)
- integration theories and contemporary Europe (2 h)

Total student workload

150 hours of work, including: - 20 hours of lecture - 0,8 ECTS, - 60 hours of student's individual work relating to the merit of lectures (reading, making notes, repeating of presented issues) - 2,4 ECTS, - 70 hours of preparing to the examination - 2,8 ECTS.

Learning outcomes - knowledge

W1: Student possesses a profound knowledge on a phenomenon of the European integration as a unique process, its nature, complexity (layers and dimensions), its origin and course, its relevance for European states; possesses a broad terminology (from the scope of legal science and associated disciplines) regarding the notion of integration W2: Student possesses a profound knowledge on post-war integration theories, their merit, historical evolution, and their relevance for progress of the integration W3: Student possesses a profound knowledge on a specificity of various relations at different levels (national, supranational and international) that integration theories are concerned with W4: Student possesses a profound knowledge on the relevance of integration theories for a human being as a party to social relations and a beneficiary of the European human rights system

Learning outcomes - skills

U1: Student is able to explain the European integration as a dynamic and complex process which produces a broad variety of implications for European societies U2: Student uses his/her knowledge on integration theories for purposes of thorough and critical analyses of exact issues and phenomena (located at national and European plane) linked with the European integration process

Learning outcomes - social competencies

K1: Student is aware of the level of her/his knowledge and fully understands the need for continuous training K2: Student is able to improve possessed skills and acquire new knowledge of interdisciplinary character by acting on her/his own

Course coordinators

Andrzej Madeja

Teaching methods

Expository teaching methods: - conventional lecture, - participatory lecture, - problem-based lecture. Exploratory teaching methods: - seminar, - case study.

Expository teaching methods

- problem-based lecture
- informative (conventional) lecture
- participatory lecture

Exploratory teaching methods

- case study
- seminar

Type of course

elective course

Prerequisites

A participant must be able to communicate in English

Assessment criteria

Method of assessment:

Written examination: single choice test including 11 questions, no negative points for incorrect answers.

Learning effects evaluation – W1, W2, W3, W4, W5, W6, U1, U2;

Tresholds of marks:
5,0: 10-11 pts.
4,5: 9 pts.
4,0: 8 pts.
3,5: 7 pts.
3,0: 6 pts.

Student's active participation during the classes is a subsidiary premiss of assessment and allows to raise the sum of points; condition: at least 6 pts gained in the test – K1, K2.

In pandemic situation every student may apply for an oral exam (via MS Teams) or get a credit by submitting an essay on an ordered topic (by e-mail by January 31, 2021).

Practical placement

N/A

Additional information

Additional information (registration calendar, class conductors, localization and schedules of classes), might be available in the USOSweb system:

Description of 1300-THEI-KPP in USOSweb