Teacher(s)
Language
English
Prerequisites
A course on economics and a course on the European economy.
Main themes
This course will analyse the relations between the European Union and the global economy.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to : | |||
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Content
This course examines the main mechanisms shaping international trade and foreign direct investment, as well as the strategies of multinational enterprises and their role in the organization and transformation of global value chains. It introduces the principal theoretical concepts and indicators of international economics, the main instruments of trade policy, and the rules and institutions underpinning the multilateral trading system.
The course analyzes the development of the multilateral trading system and European Union trade policy from their historical origins to the present day. Particular emphasis is placed on long-term structural transformations of the international economy and on the factors underlying the growing trade tensions that have emerged, especially since the 2008 global financial crisis. In this context, the course examines the intensification of the strategic and economic rivalry between the United States and China, the increasing use of economic sanctions and trade restrictions, and the growing interaction between international trade, economic security, and geopolitical considerations.
Special attention is devoted to the gradual erosion of US economic hegemony and to its implications for global economic governance and the multilateral trading system. The course explores how these transformations affect the European Union’s trade policy, its strategic choices, and its economic relations with its principal trading partners across the world.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of these developments, the course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective combining international economics, international political economy, economic history, economic geography, and geopolitics. Contemporary trade disputes and policy choices are therefore situated within broader historical and structural trends, enabling students to better contextualize the current transformation of the global trading system and the challenges facing the European Union.
The course analyzes the development of the multilateral trading system and European Union trade policy from their historical origins to the present day. Particular emphasis is placed on long-term structural transformations of the international economy and on the factors underlying the growing trade tensions that have emerged, especially since the 2008 global financial crisis. In this context, the course examines the intensification of the strategic and economic rivalry between the United States and China, the increasing use of economic sanctions and trade restrictions, and the growing interaction between international trade, economic security, and geopolitical considerations.
Special attention is devoted to the gradual erosion of US economic hegemony and to its implications for global economic governance and the multilateral trading system. The course explores how these transformations affect the European Union’s trade policy, its strategic choices, and its economic relations with its principal trading partners across the world.
To provide a comprehensive understanding of these developments, the course adopts an interdisciplinary perspective combining international economics, international political economy, economic history, economic geography, and geopolitics. Contemporary trade disputes and policy choices are therefore situated within broader historical and structural trends, enabling students to better contextualize the current transformation of the global trading system and the challenges facing the European Union.
Teaching methods
Classes are ex cathedra. Attendance is compulsory, and active participation is expected.
The lectures combine theoretical approaches with historical and empirical analysis.
The lectures combine theoretical approaches with historical and empirical analysis.
Evaluation methods
Students are required to read a two-part portfolio of readings spread over 12 weeks.
The portfolio totals 750 pages. The portfolio can be downloaded from Moodle in week 1.
Students will be quizzed on the readings in week 4 (part one of the portfolio, 375 pages) and week 8 (part two, 375 pages).
EUSL2304 – European Union and International Economics • 2026–2027
These quizzes take place at the start of the session and must be completed without access to any information source.
Reading quizzes, attendance, and participation account for 40% of the final grade.
An oral examination will take place during the examination session and constitutes the remaining 60% of the final grade. The 30-minute exam consists of two randomly selected questions. Each student has 10 minutes to prepare both answers. The oral examination will be based exclusively on the material covered in class (including the data and information presented during the lectures) and on the required readings from the portfolio.
Any use of AI is permitted, except during the quizzes and the oral exam. Students use AI at their own risk regarding the scientific accuracy of the information obtained. Replacing the required readings with AI-generated summaries is highly risky given the level of precision necessary for assessment.
The portfolio totals 750 pages. The portfolio can be downloaded from Moodle in week 1.
Students will be quizzed on the readings in week 4 (part one of the portfolio, 375 pages) and week 8 (part two, 375 pages).
EUSL2304 – European Union and International Economics • 2026–2027
These quizzes take place at the start of the session and must be completed without access to any information source.
Reading quizzes, attendance, and participation account for 40% of the final grade.
An oral examination will take place during the examination session and constitutes the remaining 60% of the final grade. The 30-minute exam consists of two randomly selected questions. Each student has 10 minutes to prepare both answers. The oral examination will be based exclusively on the material covered in class (including the data and information presented during the lectures) and on the required readings from the portfolio.
Any use of AI is permitted, except during the quizzes and the oral exam. Students use AI at their own risk regarding the scientific accuracy of the information obtained. Replacing the required readings with AI-generated summaries is highly risky given the level of precision necessary for assessment.
Bibliography
• ADDA, Jacques, La Mondialisation de l’Economie, La Découverte, Paris, 2012.
• BALDWIN, Richard & WYPLOSZ, Charles, The Economics of European Integration, McGraw-Hill, 2015, pp. 283–296.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe & NOUVEAU, Patricia, “Politique Commerciale”, in Introduction à l’Economie Européenne, 3rd ed., Ouvertures Economiques, De Boeck, Brussels, 2022.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe & WOUTERS, Jan (Eds), The Future of Transatlantic Relations in a Geoeconomic World, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2027.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe, TRAVERSA, Edoardo, WOUTERS, Jan & ZUSTRASSEN, Dimitri, Which EU Industrial Policy in the Multipolar Economy of the 21st Century?, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2022.
• DICKEN, Peter, Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century, Sage Publications, London, 2015.
• GSTÖHL, Sieglinde & DE BIÈVRE, Dirk, The Trade Policy of the European Union, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
• KOUL, Autar Krishen, Guide to the WTO and GATT: Economics, Law and Politics, Springer, Singapore, 2018.
• KRUGMAN, Paul, OBSTFELD, Maurice & MELITZ, Marc, International Economics: Theory and Policy, Global Edition, 2018.
• MELO ARAUJO, Billy, The EU Deep Trade Agenda, Oxford University Press, 2016.
• RAVENHILL, John (ed.), Global Political Economy, Oxford University Press, 2017.
• BALDWIN, Richard & WYPLOSZ, Charles, The Economics of European Integration, McGraw-Hill, 2015, pp. 283–296.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe & NOUVEAU, Patricia, “Politique Commerciale”, in Introduction à l’Economie Européenne, 3rd ed., Ouvertures Economiques, De Boeck, Brussels, 2022.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe & WOUTERS, Jan (Eds), The Future of Transatlantic Relations in a Geoeconomic World, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2027.
• DEFRAIGNE, Jean-Christophe, TRAVERSA, Edoardo, WOUTERS, Jan & ZUSTRASSEN, Dimitri, Which EU Industrial Policy in the Multipolar Economy of the 21st Century?, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, 2022.
• DICKEN, Peter, Global Shift: Reshaping the Global Economic Map in the 21st Century, Sage Publications, London, 2015.
• GSTÖHL, Sieglinde & DE BIÈVRE, Dirk, The Trade Policy of the European Union, Palgrave Macmillan, 2018.
• KOUL, Autar Krishen, Guide to the WTO and GATT: Economics, Law and Politics, Springer, Singapore, 2018.
• KRUGMAN, Paul, OBSTFELD, Maurice & MELITZ, Marc, International Economics: Theory and Policy, Global Edition, 2018.
• MELO ARAUJO, Billy, The EU Deep Trade Agenda, Oxford University Press, 2016.
• RAVENHILL, John (ed.), Global Political Economy, Oxford University Press, 2017.
Faculty or entity
Programmes / formations proposant cette unité d'enseignement (UE)
Title of the programme
Sigle
Credits
Prerequisites
Learning outcomes
Master [120] in European Studies
