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

French

The aim of this course is to shed a more sociological light on the construction of Europe, above and beyond its political and institutional workings. The idea is to tackle the relations that the EU has with the various societies that make up Europe and the way it legitimates itself or fails to do so in the people's eyes.

Knowledge of how the EU and its players work. Basic knowledge of the various political theories on European integration.

The course will cover the issues of participating in, rallying or subscribing to, and resisting Europe from various angles (but not necessarily in the same order as given below):

- The first angle of approach will be to take stock, in a general way, of the various populations acceptance of or resistance to Europe. What do rallying/subscribing to and resisting mean? How are these attitudes manifested? What means of action are employed? How have they changed over the years?

- In the wake of this first point we shall look at European social movements and networks: What are they and who belongs to them? What do they do, and how? We shall also ask in what way(s) Europe has changed collective action.

- We shall then see how European institutions are coping with their growing lack of legitimacy. What means has the EU used and is setting up to get more people to subscribe to the European blueprint?

- Illustration of these means through a specific policy, the European regional policy. This policy of financing socio-economic projects in the various regions of Europe (especially the most disadvantaged ones) serves as a public showcase for Europe. More in-depth analysis of the way it works reveals, however, a less democratic Europe than appears on the surface: a Europe of the elite, i.e., the only ones who have managed to crack the EU's codes.

- We shall wrap up with a more theoretical pondering of the relevance of analysing Europe from the "grass roots", i.e., its very physical players (in contrast to more institutionally oriented theories), as well as of the importance of embracing all the dimensions of Europe's construction, not just the political and institutional dimensions, but the social and cultural ones, too.

Ex cathedra presentations and possibility of required reading(s).

Written or oral examination.

To be set by the professor

None