Face-to-face , second term, 15 hours of theory.

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English

This course aims to familiarize students with the normative aspects of European integration. What light can shed political philosophy on European constitutionalism? What is the relevance of the liberal paradigm to conceive the European process? What is the nature of the link established between nation and democracy? What are the linguistic conditions of a European democracy?

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This course will initiate to the major current theoretical debates in Europe and on Europe. The themes included will cover both political thought as such (liberalism, communitarianism, republicanism, multiculturalism) and the normative issues raised by the European integration process (postnationalism, constitutional patriotism, cosmopolitanism, civic nationalism).

The course will be organized in three parts.

First, it will introduce to the main paradigms in contemporary political thought.

Second, it will propose a reflection on the nature of the links established between nation and democracy. Can one envision a democracy beyond the nation-state? What does mean the concept of 'constitutional patriotism'? What are the linguistic conditions of a European democracy?

Third, it will draw the attention on Europe's political nature. Does the European process entail the end of politics or does it lead to a new type of politics? What is the singularity of European federalism? How can one conceive the structure of European democratic institutions?

Ex cathedra presentations.

The product of each student's work will take the form of an oral presentation in class (about 20 min.) and of a written paper (about 5000 words).

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