POLS224-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023

Democratic and Economic Evolution of Europe

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 20 February 2023
End Date: Sunday, 25 June 2023
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 5 March 2023
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 14 May 2023

Description

This course is designed to provide sufficient knowledge and understanding of recent economic developments and democratisation processes in Europe as a whole and within the EU as an institution. It will examine the institutional and policy changes that have happened since the European "reunification" in 1989, but significant attention will be paid to the economic and political history of the continent also.

This course is designed to provide sufficient knowledge and understanding of economic developments and democratisation processes in Europe as a whole since 1945 and of the institutional and economic policy changes that have happened in the EU, its member states and in the countries of former Eastern Europe since the European "reunification" in 1989. The course examines the different composition of political and economic institutions, mechanisms and outcomes in Western and Eastern Europe during the 1945-1989 period which are presently mixed together by the process of thorough economic and democratic transition of the countries of former
communist Eastern Europe and their accession into the EU. Particular consideration is given to the examination of the political, economic and social issues resulting from the recent process of rapid EU enlargement to the East which affects not only the direct Enlargement actors but also carries global importance. The impacts of this process on New Zealand’s political, economic and cultural interests in the region will be investigated as well.

The teaching format combines formal lecturing with class discussions and 300 level student-led seminars. This course strongly encourages the student's regular participation in class and seminar discussions.

Learning Outcomes

  • This course will enable students to become familiar with the context, origins and major problems of economic development and the democratisation processes in Europe as a whole since 1945, and the institutional and economic policy changes that have happened in the EU, its member states and in the countries of former Eastern Europe since the end of the cold war.

    In particular, through their work in this course, students are expected to be able to:

  • Understand and define the nature and meaning of political and economic differences between Western and Eastern Europe during their cold war division;
  • Understand, describe and analyse the basic economic and socio-political motives for the creation of the EU's predecessor, the European Economic Community, and also for the EU's recent eastern enlargement;
  • Define the major socio-political and economic development problems which were faced by the EU and its member states on one side and by the candidates and potential candidates for EU membership from the region of ex-communist Eastern Europe on the other in the period after the end of the cold war;
  • Develop an awareness of theoretical debates relating to the themes and topics examined.
    • University Graduate Attributes

      This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:

      Critically competent in a core academic discipline of their award

      Students know and can critically evaluate and, where applicable, apply this knowledge to topics/issues within their majoring subject.

      Globally aware

      Students will comprehend the influence of global conditions on their discipline and will be competent in engaging with global and multi-cultural contexts.

Prerequisites

Any 15 points at 100 level from EURA or POLS, or
any 60 points at 100 level from the Schedule V of the BA, or
LAWS, GEOG, or
the Schedule V of the BCom.

Restrictions

EURA224, EURO224, EURA324, EURO324

Equivalent Courses

Course Coordinator / Lecturer

Milenko Petrovic

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage  Description
Five-minute introductory report and participation 20%
Mid-course test 20%
Essay - 2000 words 30%
Final test 30% two hours

Textbooks / Resources

Required Texts

Lavigne, Marie,1935-; The economics of transition : from socialist economy to market economy ; 2nd ed; Macmillan Press, 1999.

Schulze, Max-Stephan; Western Europe : economic and social change since 1945 ; Addison Wesley Longman, 1998 ((chapters 1-9)).

Additional and optional readings are listed in the Course Outline (available for enrolled students on AKO|LEARN).

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $821.00

International fee $3,750.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see Language, Social and Political Sciences .

All POLS224 Occurrences

  • POLS224-23S1 (C) Semester One 2023