Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - Comparative Political Sciences and Political Systems of Eastern Europe

Courses

The courses provided through EU4Law enable the participating students to apply theoretical concepts from the social sciences in an interdisciplinary perspective. They learn in detail how the EU multi-level system works and which opportunity structures shape political actors' behaviour. Moreover, they train their methodological skills on how to conduct a policy or a case study analysis and how undertake an analysis of EU documents, among others. The courses offered in the framework of the Jean Monnet Module cover 60 hours of teaching, focusing on topics that investigate the EU Policies to foster the Rule of Law.

 

The Rule of Law – a concept in political science and an EU policy area
(winter term 2020/21)

This course served as an introduction into academic and political discussions on the concept of the rule of law. It fostered their background on and critical understanding of relevant EU institutions and their decision-making processes and practices regarding the rule of law. The course provided training on how to find relevant content on EU websites, identify relevant political players and how to read EU documents.

 

Policy-Making in the EU – a focus on the rule of law and policy measures
(summer term 2021)

Students learned different academic concepts for the analysis of policy-making in the European Union and discussed related political debates. The course engaged in a detailed analysis of relevant EU institutions and used a case study approach. Additionally, the seminar hosted guest lectures from practitioners (representatives of EU institutions in Berlin, civil society actors dealing with Europeanisation issues and/or rule of law issues). It also offered the opportunity to work on the development of the EU4Law Wiki and engages in interactive online discussions with students from UNC and METU.

 

Euroscepticism and Democratic Backsliding
(winter term 2021/22)

The seminar presented students the opportunity to improve their understanding of the academic reflection on the concept of Euroscepticism, the nature of democratic backsliding. It fostered their background on everyday practices of EU institutions and decision-making processes in order to enhance their ability to analyse the dynamics within the member states. It offered open-ended conversations with a guest lecturer and interactive online sessions with students from UNC. Moroever, a joint block seminar with Prof. Dr. Astrid Lorenz from the Leipzig Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence, students from Leipzig University, and Prof. Dr. Ellen Bos from Andrássy University Budapest was conducted on January 7, 2022.
The concept and schedule can be found here.

 

Policy-Making in the EU – focus on rule of law
(summer term 2022)

The course offered students the opportunity to improve their understanding of academic and political discussions on the concept of the rule of law and fostered their background on everyday practices of EU institutions. They learned about decision-making processes that aim to enhance the functioning of the rule of law among the member states. The course focused on research methods, trained to read EU documents, how to find relevant content on EU websites, and to identify relevant political players. During the seminar, guest lectures from the EU representation in Berlin and an excursion to Brussels took place.

 

Political Actors engaging in the policy field “rule of law”
(winter term 2022/23)

Actor-centred concepts in political science and sociology were at the core of this seminar.  It enriched the students' expertise on the analysis of attitudes, perceptions and political behaviour. They studied individuals or groups, such as politicians, judges, entrepreneurs, parties or civil society groups who engage in defence of the rule of law or contribute to its decline. During the seminar, PhD-students held guest lectures, and a meeting with the International Youth Think Tank from Göteborg, affiliated also to the Transatlantic Masters Program, was hosted. Moreover, an excursion to Brussels took place in November. The students simulated an EU Council Meeting and visited the EU Commission. The concept and schedule of the excursion can be found here.


Researching the European Union
(summer term 2023)

The seminar will focus on various topics that train students to research the European Union. It will deepen their background on methods and theories for the analysis of Europeanisation, integration and multi-level governance. It will continue and conclude the establishment of the EU4Law Wiki.