210134 SE EC: The EU and Global Governance (2025W)

In this seminar, we will study the European Union’s role and influence in a global context. Applying various theoretical approaches (e.g., International Relations theory, constructivism, critical social theory), and drawing on different literatures (e.g., foreign policy analysis, global studies, European studies), we will be looking at 1) how the EU shapes and is shaped by other actors on the world stage, including international organisations (e.g., the UN and the WTO), regional organisations (e.g., the African Union and Mercosur), as well as global and regional powers (e.g., the USA, China, Russia), and 2) how the EU functions as a 'norm setter' and a 'norm taker' globally across key policy fields.

To this end, we will familiarise ourselves with the EU’s history including its institutional structure, legal foundations, as well as the legacy of European powers, and address questions of ontology and epistemology in a critical manner. Furthermore, we will discuss the Union’s internal multi-level governance structure to understand the dynamics between its member states, central institutions, as well as sectoral bodies in foreign policy-related decision making, and analyse its external strategies targeting actors of high politics and civil society alike. Our case studies will touch upon various key policy areas such as security, trade, climate, digital, and health.