The EU: A Global Actor

The European Union (EU) has recently been in the news due to internal challenges such as the euro crisis, the refugee crisis, and lately the Brexit crisis. However, the EU is defined by more than its crises. Despite the momentary difficulties the EU has run into, it is still the most successful peace building post-WWII experiment and one of the largest trading blocs in the world. In this course we will focus on the historical development of this unique economic and political entity. We will study the role of the EU in several key policy areas such as trade, development, security, and environmental policy. We will also address the impact of the EU 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.