The European Union and International Relations POLITIC4130

  • Academic Session: 2025-26
  • School: School of Social and Political Sciences
  • Credits: 20
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Either Semester 1 or Semester 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Collaborative Online International Learning: No
  • Curriculum For Life: No

Short Description

This course aims at providing an informed understanding of the European Union as an actor in the international arena.

Timetable

This course may not be running this year. For further information please check the Politics and IR Moodle page or contact the subject directly.

Requirements of Entry

Standard entry requirements to Honours Politics or International Relations. 

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Essay, 3000 words (75%)

Quizzes (25%)

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable for Honours courses

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below.

Course Aims

This course aims at providing an informed understanding of the European Union as an actor in the international arena. The first part looks at how globalisation, the rise of new powers, new security threats, and the expansion of foreign policy agendas have changed the nature of the EU's action in international politics. The second part looks more specifically to the relations between the EU and the developing world, paying attention to issues such as foreign aid, security and development, trade and development, and the promotion of human rights, democracy, and good governance.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students will be able to:

■ have a firm command of leading theoretical approaches to European integration and European foreign policy;

■ understand the historical development of the EU as a global actor;

■ evaluate all the policy instruments the EU uses in international politics;

■ appreciate the main factors shaping the main determinants of policy-making and behaviour in European foreign policy;

■ assess the role that the EU plays in various regions of the world.

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.