Universität Wien

040226 SE Political Processes and Governance in the EU (MA) (2025S)

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 4 - Wirtschaftswissenschaften
Continuous assessment of course work

Summary

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).
Registration information is available for each group.

Groups

Group 1

max. 30 participants
Language: English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

Geblockt, Freitags, in englischer Sprache

  • Friday 07.03. 08:00 - 09:30 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 21.03. 08:00 - 11:15 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 28.03. 08:00 - 11:15 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 11.04. 08:00 - 11:15 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 09.05. 08:00 - 11:15 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 16.05. 08:00 - 11:15 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock
  • Friday 23.05. 08:00 - 13:00 Seminarraum 16 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 3.Stock

Aims, contents and method of the course

Policy-making at the European Union (EU) level is complex given the institutional polyphony that characterises its multifaceted multi-level decision-making processes. Social/economic strife (Austherity, Brexit, Migration, Trade agreements etc.), an environment of heightened Euroscepticism across the EU, as well as the spread of populist politics and rise of illiberal democracies have affected the type of solutions offered, which range from more supranational action to rejection of EU and a retreat to national sovereignty.
This course will engage with the above and completion of the seminar will enable students to have a deeper understanding of the functions of the EU’s institutions/actors and the processes involved in EU policy/decision-making.

Assessment and permitted materials

This seminar requires regular attendance, active participation, a power point presentation and a final essay. Regular attendance is mandatory, especially session 1 is obligatory. No more than two sessions may be missed and any further missed session must be compensated by a written task. Coursework includes written and oral assignments. Submission of each assignment on time is mandatory. Plagiarized assignments count as no submission. Late submissions of assignments will be penalised.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Evaluation (All assignments are compulsory):
• Group presentation + presentation file (35%)
• Active and informed participation in class (20%)
• Final paper in the length of 3000-3500 words (40%)
• Event of the week presentation 5%

Examination topics

presentations and final essay

Reading list

„The Institutions of the European Union“, fifth edition, Hodson/Puetter/Saurugger/Peterson, Oxford University Press 2022.
All texts are accessible in univie library.

Group 2

max. 30 participants
Language: English
LMS: Moodle

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

  • Wednesday 05.03. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 19.03. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 26.03. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 02.04. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 09.04. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 30.04. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 15 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 07.05. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 14.05. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 21.05. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 5 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 Erdgeschoß
  • Wednesday 28.05. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 04.06. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 11.06. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 18.06. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock
  • Wednesday 25.06. 08:00 - 09:30 Hörsaal 17 Oskar-Morgenstern-Platz 1 2.Stock

Aims, contents and method of the course

Policy-making at the European Union (EU) level is complex given the institutional polyphony that characterises its multifaceted, multi-level decision-making processes.
The EU member states (MS) through the EU’s institutions (intergovernmental as well as supranational) play a crucial role in all EU policy-making. Specific policies (e.g. monetary policy) are decided in specialised institutions (e.g. European Central Bank) and non-states actors, interest groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) try also to shape policy-decision.
The Russian war in Ukraine and the geo-politicisation of international affairs are perceived as threats to the European integration process. By considering the current context and historical developments, one recognises that crises are nothing new to the European integration process: each period has had its own fair share of crises that ultimately have contributed to the flexibility/complexity of the Union we have today.
This course will engage with the above in terms of: a) the decision-making and institutional change; b) the EU’s institutional actors and the impact crises have on their functions/mandates; and c) the role of select MS.

OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE:
The aim of the course is twofold:
a) enable students to gain an understanding of the political context within which business is done in the EU (decision-making processes & actors involved in policy-making at the EU level);
b) advance students' critical/analytical ability to produce spoken and written assignments in accordance with good academic practices.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
• Recognising and understanding the role of the EU governance in determining the expectations and rules for the context within which business is done in the EU
• Detailed understanding of processes and actors involved in policy-making at the EU level
o Each class stresses specific issues thus, students will gain both introductory as well as in‐depth knowledge through readings offered & discussions held in class.
• Class is designed to develop students’ analytical/critical thinking (research work; essay writing) and presentation techniques. Hence, students will learn how to:
o Independently produce written analyses in accordance with good academic practices,
o Plan and present own research, and
o Critically analyse and think conceptually about the processes and actors involved in policy-making at the EU level by using reasoned/well-informed arguments.
• Strengthens students’ capacity for geographical mobility

Assessment and permitted materials

Attendance and presence of mind are mandatory.
Absence in the 1st session will result in de-registration from the course. Maximum 2 absences are allowed.

Coursework will include:
- one individual "event of the week" presentation,
- one group presentation
- regular participation in classroom discussions, and
- one final paper/essay.

Late submissions of assignments will be penalised. Plagiarised assignments count as no submission.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

Minimum Requirements:
Eagerness to gain knowledge on the processes and actors involved in policy-making at the EU level.

Assessment criteria:
Understanding about actors and processes of the EU policy-making
Ability to produce spoken and written analyses in accordance with good academic practices as well as critically analyse the processes and actors involved in policy-making at EU level by using reasoned/well-informed arguments.

Evaluation:
• Short individual "event of the week" presentation (5%);
• Group presentation + presentation file (35%);
• Active and informed participation in classroom discussions (20%);
• Final paper in the length of 3000-3500 words (40%). Deadline: 10.07.2025

≥ 89% (1) Very Good
76% ‐ 88% (2) Good
61% ‐ 75% (3) Fair
49% ‐ 60% (4) Pass

Examination topics

Understanding of:
EU's decision-making processes and models
Mandates/functions of EU actors

Reading list

All texts are accessible vial the univie library!

Compulsory source:
Hodson, D. et al. (eds) (2022). The Institutions of the European Union (5th Edition). OUP

Further sources of reference:
Cini, M., Perez-Solorzano Borragan, N. (2022). European Union Politics (7th Edition). OUP
McCormick, J. (2020). European Union Politics (3rd Edition). Macmillan
Costa, O., Brack, N. (2019). How the EU Really Works. Routledge

Association in the course directory

Last modified: Mo 18.08.2025 11:25