Course content

Who governs Europe? What other actors, beyond the EU member states and institutions, are involved in day-to-day policy-making in Brussels? Who lobbies the EU and its institutions? Why, how and under which conditions are these societal/non-state actors able to influence EU law and policies? What normative questions does their involvement into the European legislative process raise with regards to transparency and democracy in the EU? Should the activities of lobby groups be regulated?

The course adopts an interdisciplinary, actor-centred perspective to examine the changing role of a variety of societal/non-state actors in EU politics over time up to the present day. The course first focusses on the growth and role of various societal actors such as political parties, business groups, trade unions and interest groups. It then deals with interest representation in the EU. It explores in particular the actual involvement, strategies and influence of societal actors in lobbying the EU.

Learning outcome

Knowledge
Students will acquire
- a basic knowledge of the varieties of non-state actors and their role and functions in EU politics,
- a detailed knowledge of interest representation, lobbyism and lobbying strategies carried out by these actors,
- a good understanding of the lobbying process,
- a basic knowledge of the theoretical and methodological approaches to the study of societal actors in the EU,
- a good understanding of key normative issues raised in contemporary debates by societal actors’ involvement in EU governance and lobbying.

Skills
Students will be able to
- describe and explain how and why societal actors are involved in EU politics,
- theoretically and methodologically analyse how different actors carry out their activities in the EU,
- to participate in empirically and theoretically informed debates on the EU and lobbying,
- to write a concrete lobbying strategy and reproduce the lobbying process.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, with active student participation.

Compulsory assignments

• Lobbying strategy (group assignment)
• Simulation (group assignment)

Recommended previous knowledge

Bachelor's degree in European Studies and Foreign Languages or equivalent approved.

Required previous knowledge

None.

Course materials

Available at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions