Syllabus “European Polity and Politics”
Module 2, 2nd week of Sept. 2007
1. The political system of the European Union
The success of European integration is based on institutions. Without an institutional underpinning the persistence of international cooperation would have been in danger. An elaborate institutional system has been established that secured a balance between the competing individual interests of the member-states and their common aspiration for peace and welfare through cooperation. A particular “Community method” of decision-making has been institutionalised and adapted to changing circumstances. The EU has developed into a “regulatory state” with considerable impact on the member-states. Even without a European government the EU is constraining national governments in exerting their sovereign power in a wide range of policy domains.
1.1. The political system of the European Union
Ø Short overview of the history / genealogy of the EU political system
Ø The importance of institutions
Ø Explanation of the institutional set-up of the EU, build on three pillars
Ø The political system of the European Community (EC), its structure (European Commission, Council of Ministers, EP, European Court of Justice, Economic and Social Committee, Committee of the Regions) and decision making procedures
Required reading:
Kohler-Koch, Beate/Conzelmann, Thomas/Knodt, Michèle (2004): European Integration – European Governance,
Documents to be used:
Ø Treaty Establishing the European Community (Part V Institutions of the Community
Ø Treaty of Nice; Constitutional Treaty; European Council Presidency (
Ø Online access to >europa.eu<
1.2. The dominance of regulatory policies in the EU
Ø Lecture; no further reading required
1.3. European multi-level governance
- Comparison of different types of governance
- Characteristics of European governance in a multi-level system
- New modes of governance
Required reading:
- Kohler-Koch, Beate/Conzelmann, Thomas/Knodt, Michèle (2004): European Integration – European Governance,
Ø Kohler-Koch, Beate (2007): What can we learn from EU governance? (in Chinese)
Ø Kohler-Koch; Beate/Rittberger, Berthold (2006): Review Article: The ‘Governance Turn’ in EU Studies, in: JCMS 44: 27-49 (in Chinese)