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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

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Module Title
Module Code (ITS)
Faculty School
Module Co-ordinatorSemester 1: Kenneth McDonagh
Semester 2: Kenneth McDonagh
Autumn: Kenneth McDonagh
Module TeachersWalt Kilroy
Iain McMenamin
Kenneth McDonagh
Jivanta Schottli
NFQ level 9 Credit Rating
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
None
Description

This module explores the emerging role of the European Union as a foreign and security policy actor. It will provide students with the theoretical and intellectual tools to understand and explain the EU’s growing global role through examaining the historical development and contemporary practices of EU security and defence policy. The first part of the course (weeks 1-3) examines the theoretical frames that allow us to understand the EU as a foreign policy actor, the second part of the course (weeks 4-6) looks at the developement of EU security and defence policy instruments from the perspective of EU-Member state dynamics. The final part of the course (weeks 8-12) examines the EU’s engagement beyond its borders.

Learning Outcomes

1. Identify debates on the role of the EU as a Global Actor
2. Apply theories of security and foreign policy to the EU
3. Describe the key challenges facing the EU as an actor in world politics
4. Explain how the interaction of member state interests and EU institutional interests combine to produce EU foreign policy action in the field of security
5. Write research informed policy papers for a non-academic audience



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture22No Description
Independent Study90Library based research
Class Presentation25No Description
Assignment Completion113No Description
Total Workload: 250

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

• The EU as a sui generis foreign and security policy actor: Key Concepts

• Gendering EU foreign and security policy

• Explaining EU foreign policy: Realist, Institutionalist and Constructivist Approaches

• Divergence or Convergence? Member states and EU Foreign and security Policy

• Changing Dynamics in Diplomacy: EU member states and the EEAS

• Defence cooperation in the European Union: From St Malo to PESCO

• Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy The new neighbourhood after Brexit

• CSDP missions in the Western Balkans: Securing the future of Europe

• CSDP missions in the neighbourhood and beyond: Securing Europe in the World

• The US, Russia and the EU: Geopolitics in the 21st Century

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment% Examination Weight%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
Research Papern/a50%n/a
ParticipationFormulating Questions for class discussion10%n/a
AssignmentPolicy Paper25%n/a
Group presentationn/a15%n/a
Indicative Reading List

  • Cottey, A: 2012, Security in 21st Century Europe,
  • Howorth, J.: 2014, Security and Defence Policy in the European Union,
Other Resources

None

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