European values in times of crisis: a comparison of Polish and Swiss perspectives

Timetable

Module aim (aims)

1. Analyzing theoretical aspects of norms and values in EUropean political, economic and social debate
2. Exploring empirical aspects of European politics and policies from the normative perspective
3. Investigating current challenges framed by the concept of polycrisis in Europe
4. Identifying similarities and differences between Polish and Swiss approaches to European values

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Background in social sciences, fluent English language

Syllabus

Week 1 Introduction

Week 2 European values – conceptual approach

Week 3 European values – historical approach

Week 4 European Union as a normative power

Week 5 (Poly)crisis in EUrope – conceptual debate

Week 6 (Poly)crisis in EUrope – empirical examples and manifestations

Week 7 Normative systems in Swiss politics

Week 8 Normative systems in Polish politics

Week 9 Normative systems in Poland and Switzerland compared

Week 10 Case studies: migration

Week 11 Case studies: climate

Week 12 Case studies: neutrality and alignment

Week 13 Case studies: changing international order

Week 14 Case studies: European integration

Week 15 Conclusions

Reading list

Calligaro, O., Coman, R., Foret, F., Heinderyckx, F., Kudria, T. & Perez-Seoane, A. (2016). Values in the EU policies and discourse. A first assessment. Les Cahiers du Cevipol, 3, 5-52. https://www.cairn.info/revue--2016-3-page-5.htm.

Patel KK. Values and Norms. In: Project Europe: A History. Cambridge University Press; 2020:146-175.

Haukkala H. (2007)  The Role of Norms and Values in the European Union’s Russia Policy. In: Gower J, Timmins G, eds. Russia and Europe in the Twenty-First Century: An Uneasy Partnership. Anthem Press; 2007:133-148.

Brigitte Suter, Ingrid Jerve Ramsøy, Franziska Böhm, Contributor(s): Elżbieta M. Goździak, Izabella Main, Izabela Kujawa (2020) Valuing Gender Equality: Ideas, Practices and Actors in Everyday Integration Work — Integration and the Value of Gender Equality in Germany, Hungary, Poland and Sweden. NoVaMigra Briefing Paper September.

Plamen Akaliyski, Christian Welzel & Josef Hien (2022) A community of shared values? Dimensions and dynamics of cultural integration in the European Union, Journal of European Integration, 44:4, 569-590, DOI: 10.1080/07036337.2021.1956915

Elżbieta M. Goździak, and Izabella Main (2020), European norms and values and the refugee crisis Issues and challenges, Imprint Routledge

Weymans, W. (2023). A Critical History of the Use of ‘European Values’. In: Polak, R., Rohs, P. (eds) Values – Politics – Religion: The European Values Study. Philosophy and Politics - Critical Explorations, vol 26. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-31364-6_3