Spain and the European Union: Political and Economic Issues

SPAIN AND THE EUROPEAN UNION: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES

Competences and skills that will be acquired and learning results:
- Development of analytical skills and critical thinking
- Communication and written skills in exams, papers and case studies
- Communication and speaking skills in class presentations
- Interpersonal skills, including the ability of teamwork
- Understanding the key elements for the development of Spanish society and politics, particularly from the Transition to democracy to the present
- Understanding the key factors of the history of the EU
- Knowledge of the main institutions, socio-political processes and public policies in Spain and the EU
- Impact of the EU in Spain
- Current social and political problems and challenges ahead in Spain and the EU

CONTENTS:

The course is divided into the following blocks:

PART I.

SPAIN: THE CREATION OF A MODERN DEMOCRACY

HISTORICAL INTRODUCTION

DESIGN OF A DEMOCRATIC REGIME: ELECTIONS, PARTIES AND ELABORATION OF THE CONSTITUTION

CONSTRUCTION OF A WELFARE STATE: PARTY COMPETITION, INTERMEDIATION OF INTERESTS AND POST-AUTHORITARIAN SETTLEMENTS

SPAIN AND THE INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM

PART II.

EUROPEAN UNION: HISTORY, INSTITUTIONS AND FUNCTIONING

HISTORICAL LEGACY AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE EUROPEAN PROJECT

THEORIES ON EUROPEAN INTEGRATION

INSTITUTIONS, ACTORS AND POLICIES

ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION

COMMON AGRICULTURAL POLICY

SOCIAL AND REGIONAL POLICIES

THE EU IN THE WORLD

PART III.

OTHER THEMES AND CHALLENGES

IMPACT OF THE EU IN SPAIN

THE 2008 ECONOMIC CRISIS AND ITS EFFECTS

THE EU AGAINST THE USA: PROBLEMS AND CHALLENGES OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIAL MODEL

DEMOCRATIC DEFICIT

THE "BREXIT"

Learning activities and methodology:

Teaching time is distributed according to the following activities:
- Conventional classes (50 for 100 teaching hours). This will include analysis of cases illustrating the lectures.
- Workshop and in class work (10 per 100 school hours). Specific analyses entrusted to student teams and public debates on national news that are made regarding any of the topics taught in class.
- Explanations, presentations by teams of students and written exercises on basic reading program stipulated in the Syllabus (30 per 100).

This course is equivalent to 6 ECTS credits, 150 hours in total approximately

Theoretical explanations of the teacher and several activities in class: 42 hours
Study of the subject by the student: 50 hours
Preparation of presentations, writing papers and case studies: 40 hours
Make up classes, tutoring, hand in of papers, etc.: 16 hours
Exam: 2 hours

Assessment:

- Exam (60% of the final grade)
- Essay (30%)
- Class participation (10%)

Basic Bibliography:

Baldwin, R. y C. Wyplosz . . The Economics of European Integration 5th ed. McGraw Hill. 2015

De Grauve, P. . The Economics of Monetary Union 11th ed. . Oxford University Press. 2016

García, Catalapiedra, D. y R. Pacheco Pardo. Contemporary Spanish Foreign Policy. Routledge. 2014

Gunther, R. y J. R. Montero. The Politics of Spain. Cambridge University Press. 2009

Hix, S. y B. Hoyland. The Political System of the European Union 3rd ed.. Palgrave. 2011

Reniu, J.M., Ruiz Martínez, F.J. et al. . Sistema Político Español. Huygens Editorial. 2012