History and politics of european cooperation since 1919

The theme of the course will be the European cooperation and integration history, encompassing not only the history of the European Union and its forerunner since 1950, but also of all forms of European cooperation with an element of institutional formalization, since 1919, when the League of Nations and the International Labour Organisation - two international organisations with a large European operative basis - were founded. Beyond the European Union, it also includes organisations such as the Council of Europe, OEEC/OECD, NATO, the Comecon (the organisation of economic cooperation of the Eastern bloc) and the OSCE (the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe created in 1975). The course will also include some analyses of the societal actors that either underpinned or opposed a closer European integration, ranging from non-state actors such as transnational political party organizations, professional associations and stable cartels among companies. Hence the course touches on a wide variety of sub-disciplines, including political, economic, social policies declined according to the instruments of political science, as well as cultural, legal, diplomatic and military history.

The students will acquire knowledge about the European integration process through 40 hours lectures, and will learn research skills and methodologies to develop their written thesis. The students will also learn how to develop an interdisciplinary understanding of European integration.