European Political Economy

Module description

This module offers in-depth theoretically informed teaching and learning of the empirics of European political economy. It provides a theoretical overview of the process of European integration, particularly European economic policy making. It addresses topical events in the process of European economic integration, such as the making of the EMU, the crisis of the Eurozone, the monetary policy making of the European Central Bank, the Stability and the Growth Pact and fiscal co-ordination in Europe or the European Employment Strategy.  After this, the module places the political economy of the European Union (EU) within the context of contemporary capitalism and concludes by exploring some contemporary political economy issues in the EU. Attention will be paid to contemporary issues such as the euro-zone crisis, Brexit, populism and the response to the COVID 19 crisis.

*Please note that module information is indicative and may change from year to year.

 

Assessment details

Presentation (10%) and one 3,000-word essay (90%)

Teaching pattern

One-hour lecture and one-hour seminar, weekly

Indicative teaching schedule 

Part I: Introduction and theories
Week 1: What is European political economy?
Week 2: Mainstream approaches to EPE: neo-functionalism and intergovernmentalism
Week 3: Critical approaches to EPE

Part II: Application of theories to selected European economic policies
Week 4: The making of EMU
Week 5: The monetary policy of the ECB from the establishment to the sovereign debt crisis
Week 6: The political economy of fiscal co-ordination in the EU
Week 7: The political economy of European unemployment
Week 8: The crisis of the Eurozone and populism
Week 9: Brexit and the City of London
Week 10: The political economy of the response to the COVID 19 crisis

Note that this teaching schedule is indicative and subject to change.

Suggested reading list

• Leila Simona Talani (2014) European Political Economy: Issues and Theories (London: Routledge), 2^nd edition.
• Ben Clift (2014) Comparative Political Economy: States, Markets and Global Capitalism (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).
• Ben Rosamond (2000) Theories of European Integration (Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan).

Module description disclaimer

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-to-date, innovative and relevant programmes of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.

Please note that modules with a practical component will be capped due to educational requirements, which may mean that we cannot guarantee a place to all students who elect to study this module.

Please note that the module descriptions above are related to the current academic year and are subject to change.