Section outline
-
In this course, teams of students will negotiate resolution of one of the current events. The theme of this year's course will be selected by students after the first lecture. The list of topics is attached. The purpose of this simulated negotiation is (i) to understand the obstacles of negotiations of political and economic agreements and (ii) to learn negotiation techniques (iii) to broaden and deepen understanding of the EU affairs.
The course is divided into three parts. Firstly, we start with four lectures introducing the topic, to provide the key information to all participants. The game itself follows. The course is concluded by a follow-up and short essay.
The topic for 2018/2019 is: Migration in the EU: Shall countries that do not accept migrants receive less EU funds in the future?
-
Introduction to the course
-
Lecture 1: European Migrant Crisis: Facts
-
Lecture 2: Economic effects of migration: Theory and Empirical Evidence -
Lecture 3: European Budgetary Framework: Structure and challenges for negotiations.
-
Lecture 4: Do we need “more Europe”?
Readings:
Communications from the European Commission to the European Parliament on the Migration Crisis. Browse (very briefly!) to see, how the agreement on quotas has been implemented, and who did not.
March 2016: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1485252989182&uri=CELEX:52016DC0165
April 2016: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1485252836824&uri=CELEX:52016DC0197
June 2017: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?qid=1502442398515&uri=CELEX:52017DC0330
Additionally, there's the current White Paper on the Future of the EU + some more readings.
-
This paper includes an interesting proposal concerning the refugee "allocation", but it provides a short overview of the basic framework and dilemmas concerning EU migration policies.
-
Time for elaboration of the proposals and meeting with students
Teachers will meet with each group separately to ensure that all groups do understand their roles and tasks.
Schedule:
12:35 European Commission/European Parliament
12:50 Sweden and Finland
13:05 Germany and France
13:20 Italy and Greece
13:35 Poland and Hungary
-
Group presentations – position papersUpload your position papers and prepare your presentations. More details in the assignment.
(1 submission per each group is fine)
-
Review of the reports by other groups
Groups are reviewing the reports of the competing groups. Goal is to find weak and strong sides.Greece and Italy reviews Hungary and Poland
Hungary and Poland reviews European Commission
European Commission reviews Sweden and Finland
Sweden and Finland reviews Germany and France
Germany and France reviews Greece and Italy.
1st voting round
Groups must elect the binding analytical proposal / Groups must select alternatives for negotiations.
-
Group presentations – Policy proposals
Groups are presenting the policy proposals. -
Easter Monday -
Review of the reports by other groups
Groups are reviewing the reports of the competing groups. Goal is to find weak and strong sides.2nd voting round: Groups must elect the final policy solution.
European Commission reviews Germany and France
Germany and France reviews Hungary and Poland
Hungary and Poland reviews Sweden and Finland
Sweden and Finland reviews Greece and Italy
Greece and Italy reviews European Commission
-
Follow-up
Critical review of the experience with all activities: negotiation within and between groups, voting negotiations, analysis of the winning proposals etc. -
Follow-upPhilosophical perspective – Role of values, falsification criteria, and limited influence of expert knowledge on public opinions and policy decisions. If time permits, discussion about the essays.