Time Schedule:
Sabine Lang
EURO 302
Seattle Campus
Builds upon themes and topics introduced in EURO 301. Provides rigorous and specialized investigation of European political institutions, societies, and cultures in the modern era. Prerequisite: EURO 301.
Class description
This course will introduce students to the political systems and social transformations in major Western European Democracies since 1945. Even though European integration is a powerful motor for politics in Europe today, nation states, their political cultures, and their specific institutional arrangements remain important. National and subnational cultures and preferences often prevail in areas such as foreign, social, or migration policies. The course is designed to develop a broader understanding of the variations in democracy as they are practiced in Western Europe today and of the different political cultures that they are tied into. It will also deepen our understanding of the difficulties of European integration. Special emphasis will be placed on specific challenges that countries face, such as immigration in France, unification in Germany, or neutrality in Switzerland. We will try to understand nation states not just through their political systems and social structures, but also by identifying and studying 'hot issues' in each country.
Student learning goals
This course is designed to make students understand specific national cultural and historical predicaments that shape politics and policies.
I would like students to grasp current contested issues within nation states and how they relate to supranational decision making of the European Union.
General method of instruction
lecture and discussion
Recommended preparation
Class assignments and grading
