Contemporary Issues in Europe

Over the last decade, Britain and Europe have faced an array of extraordinary challenges, like immigration, the COVID pandemic, drought, and war.

Governments often struggle to identify the scale, impact, and long shadows of such ‘tests to society’s resilience’, having to manage public expectations and the limitations of past policy.

This ten-week introductory course casts a critical eye at governments’ crisis management of current and ongoing crises in Britain and contemporary Europe. In so doing it aims to explores the (de)politicisation of key challenges, and the broader underlying issues.

This is a 10-credit module on the Pathway to a degree in International Relations and Politics. It is also open to all as a stand-alone course.

Learning and teaching

The course is taught through a mix of short lectures and small group work and collaboration.

On completion of this module, a participant should be able to:

• - Evaluate the management and ‘life cycle’ of current crises according to Boin’s five-step model, and identify different problems and stakeholders within European institutions and states
• - Identify gaps, mechanisms and dynamics within public policy making relevant to the handling of crises, and demonstrate space for political interpretation with regard to current affairs.
• - Draft a 1,500 word policy brief to decision makers, which identifies the nature and stage of a particular crisis, and which makes relevant and persuasive proposals.

Coursework and assessment

The assessment for the module will consist of a (formative) Policy Brief exercise, and a Policy Brief (100%).

Reading suggestions

• Boin A., P. 't Hart, E. K. Stern & B. Sundelius (2017). The politics of crisis management : public leadership under pressure (2^nd edition). Cambridge University Press.
• Cairney P. (2020). Understanding public policy : theories and issues (2nd ed.). Red Globe Press.

Library and computing facilities

As a student on this course you are entitled to join and use the University’s library and computing facilities. Find out more about using these facilities.

Accessibility

Our aim is access for all. We aim to provide a confidential advice and support service for any student with a long term medical condition, disability or specific learning difficulty. We are able to offer one-to-one advice about disability, pre-enrolment visits, liaison with tutors and co-ordinating lecturers, material in alternative formats, arrangements for accessible courses, assessment arrangements, loan equipment and dyslexia screening.