Module: EU Foreign & Security Policy

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	EU Foreign & Security Policy
Module Code	POL1061 (ITS: LG5037)
Faculty	Law & Government	School	Humanities & Social Sciences
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	10

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

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	22	No Description
Independent Study	90	Library based research
Class Presentation	25	No Description
Assignment Completion	113	No Description
Total Workload: 250

Section Breakdown
CRN	20933	Part of Term	Semester 2
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Kenneth McDonagh	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Research Paper	n/a	50%	n/a
Participation	Formulating Questions for class discussion	10%	n/a
Assignment	Policy Paper	25%	n/a
Group presentation	n/a	15%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

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Indicative Reading List

Books:

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

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None