Untitled Document

TUTORIAL 9 - The European Union

Discussion topics:

Was some form of European integration inevitable after the Second World War?
What are the principal theoretical perspectives on European integration, and how do they differ?
If the EU is not just another International Organisation, nor a federal super-state, what is it?
What is unique about the EU as a political system?

Supplementary question for general debate:

Is a European Constitution necessary or desirable?

Reading list:

Bomberg, E. and Stubb, A. (eds.) (2003) The European Union: How Does It Work?; Oxford, OUP

Cini, M. (ed.) (2003) European Union Politics; Oxford, OUP

George, S. and Bache I. (2001) Politics in the European Union; Oxford, OUP

McCormick, J. (1999) Understanding the European Union; Palgrave

+ many books in the library – classmark 382.9142

Furthermore, there are invaluable internet resources, including the EU’s own site which accesses all the EU institutions:

http://europa.eu.int

Futurum is developing a comprehensive site on the Future of Europe debate:

http://europa.eu.int/futurum/index_en.htm

Information on the Convention on the Future of Europe is available at the Convention website:

http://european-convention.eu.int

Current EU affairs can be followed in many newspapers (The Financial Times is probably the best), and also through their websites:

Financial Times:

http://news.ft.com/world/brussels

The Guardian has a dedicated site on European integration:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/eu

…as does the BBC:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/europe/2003/inside_europe/default.stm

There are dedicated EU current affairs sites:

http://www.european-voice.com

http://www.EUObserver.com

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office’s site is the UK Government’s main site on European affairs, and contains background info, latest positions and useful links to other sites: