The EU: A Global Actor

With 27 members and 498 million citizens, the European Union (EU) has become a global actor that is hard to ignore. In this course, we will focus on the historical development of this unique economic and political entity and on its increasing importance in the world. We will reflect on both the opportunities and the limitations of the EU to solve global issues. We will study the inner workings of the EU as well as its role in several policy areas such as trade, development, security, and environmental policy. We will also address the EU’s impact on neighboring countries and the bilateral relations of the EU with key players in the world, notably the United States, Russia, and China. 3 hrs sem.