History of European Integration

The course offers a critical reflection on the history of Europe's economic and political unification process, analyzing its most significant passages from the first pro-European insights and reflections during the 1930s to the present day. The objectives are to provide the student with the tools to interpret the knowledge gained by reading the textbooks and documentation provided, while equipping him with critical skills to address even cutting-edge issues in the field of study of the history of European integration; at the same time, it is intended to help to focus on the choices made by governments, pro-European movements and individual actors at certain crucial moments, to understand their aims, to verify their consistency with national interests and with the decisions taken by the international cooperation forums.

The study of this course will allow the student to identify the ideal lines, if any, in the process of European construction, as well as to define those elements of continuity and rupture in decision-making and diplomatic processes, collecting and interpreting the data available on the basis of the most recent historiography and available documentation. Finally, the student will have the critical tools necessary to examine with autonomy of judgment and possibly communicate what cyclically in public debate are evoked as congenital and peculiar vices of European construction, such as the democratic deficit, excessive specialization and technicality, the confrontation/competition with the United States and other international actors resulting from processes of regional integration.