Courses

To declare a major/minor with us please email european.studies@nyu.edu

SPRING 2022 COURSES

EURO-UA 982.001 Comparative Governments in Europe

Seminar | 4 points
Thomas Zittel | Tue, 10:15-12:15
In Person | KJCC, Room 324

The question how to organize the political game is key to any student of politics. Europe is a fascinating laboratory in this regard. It involves a rich tapestry of political regimes. This, for example, ranges from a majoritarian form of democracy such as the one that we find in the UK to consensual systems that are located in the Nordic countries. It also involves advanced forms of direct democratic regimes such as Switzerland compared to staunch representative systems such as the one in Germany. This class will explore the different patterns of democracy in Europe including both the old democracies in Western Europe and the new democracies in Eastern Europe. It aims to provide an overview to students about how democracy is organized on the European continent. Most importantly, this class will explore the stimulating question, why Europe contains so different types of democracy and how history and social context affects politics. Furthermore, we ask whether differences in institutional regimes matter for the lives of ordinary people, for example in terms of different policies that result from them or in terms of different living conditions. 

EURO-UA 983.001 Crisis of Europe

Seminar | 4 points
Hadas Aron | Thu, 10:15-12:15
In Person | KJCC, Room 324

In the past decade the countries of Europe, and the European Union as an organization, have been facing multiple challenges. The 2008 financial crisis hit several countries and generated a crisis in the shared Eurozone; Euroscepticism has given rise to populist movements throughout the continent; waves of migration were met with struggle and backlash; Western European countries have been threatened by terror; Russia is increasingly aggressive; and recently the US is increasingly indifferent and even hostile toward its European allies. In this course we will attempt to evaluate the following questions: Do these challenges amount to a crisis? Is the integrity of the EU in danger? What can be done to face these multiple challenges? The course explores the dimensions of the European crisis: sovereignty, democracy, economy, security, and culture. We will explore these questions in the EU, in its relationships, and in key individual cases such as Britain, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Hungary.

 

FALL 2021 COURSES

EURO-UA 950 Contemporary Europe

Seminar | 4 points

Professor Hadas Aron | Thu, 10:15-12:15
Room: KJCC, Rm 324



Please note: This is a required course for all CEMS majors.



The course examines the liberal order in Europe that was formed after WWII, its institutional design, the challenges it has been facing, and the implications of the liberal order for politics, society, and culture in Europe. The first part of the course reviews the social, economic, and security concerns Europe faced in 1945, and the institutions that were constructed to respond to these concerns. We will also explore the Cold War and its consequences for the politics, and the realities of people throughout Europe. The second part of the course explores the integration of Europe into a social, economic, and identity community, and the expansion of European institutions and identity first to Southern Europe and then to the former Soviet Bloc. The third part of the course addresses the current "Crisis of Europe" from the 2008 financial crisis through the surge of refugee migration and the rise of populism. We will ask whether and to what extent the current crisis threatens the system formed after 1945.

The course is interdisciplinary in nature. To explore political change and continuity in contemporary Europe we will combine theories from international relations, political science, sociology, and economics, as well as readings of historical primary and secondary resources. In addition to scholarly literature we will use contemporary media outlets, cultural resources and video, when available.

 

EURO-UA 983.002 Old Europe and the New Right

Seminar | 4 points
Professor Tamsin Shaw | Mon 12:30-2:30
Room: KJCC, Room 324
Same as PHIL-UA 983.001

This course will examine the origins of right wing ideology in European thought since the French Revolution. We will look at the emergence of an imagined "old Europe" through mythological ideas about national authenticity, race-based philosophies of history, populism, and anti-rationalism. We will also look at the role this fantasy still plays in global right wing thought.

 

 



SPRING 2022 COURSES

EURO-GA 2162.001 History of Eastern Europe
Same as HIST-GA 3903

Seminar | 4 points
Larry Wolff | Mon, 9:30–12:15
In Person | KJCC, Room 324

This course offers a graduate survey of the topic of Eastern Europe, exploring the themes of nationalism, communism, war and ethnic cleansing, and borderlands while also exploring the meaning of “Eastern Europe” as an historical concept. The chronological extent of the course reaches from the sixteenth century to the late twentieth century, with an emphasis on the more modern period.  In general, the course will not discuss the history of the Russian empire or the Soviet Union, though some issues will inevitably be relevant to Eastern Europe.  Class requirements include attendance, substantial weekly readings, and participation in class discussions.  There will be some oral presentations and short weekly informal response papers

EURO-GA 2162.002 Luminaries and Villains in European Politics

Seminar | 4 points
Thomas Zittel | Thu, 12:30–2:30
In Person | KJCC, Room 324

Europe traditionally has been the home of strong party government. This, however, does not contradict the role of individuals in electoral, legislative, and executive politics. Top politicians such as Emmanuel Macron, Angela Merkel, or Boris Johnson are (or have been) visible figures in European governments affecting the perceptions of the public and the policies that are being decided. Also, individual legislators matter for the way how citizens perceive politics and what kind of policies are being decided. This class introduces students to theoretical and empirical research on the role of individual politicians in European politics. We will, for example, discuss the quality of politicians, and what may characterize luminaries or villains. We will further explore how we can increase the number of luminaries and keep the share of villains down, which should be a general goal under democratic government. We also will touch upon the leeway that European systems of party government provide for individual politicians to make a difference in one or the other way.

EURO-GA 3000 Graduate Research Seminar

Seminar | 4 points
Jasmine Samara | Wed, 10:15–12:15
In Person | KJCC, Room 324

Required for CEMS MA students. Not open to visiting students. This course explores the design of research methodologies employed in the field of European Studies. During the class we will cover various types of empirical methods, focusing on qualitative ones, particularly ethnography, historical research, visual analysis and digital media analysis. We will look at different examples of how these methods can be effectively used and combined for studying different aspects of European societies, EU’s political institutions, and cultural practices. The course will emphasize the framing of research questions, the choice of best methods for doing thesis research, and how methodological approaches influence the significance, meaning, and impact of the results. Assignments from this course are designed to help students prepare for and advance their MA thesis projects. They will consist of several relatively small projects as well as a larger research project employing an original methodology.

EURO-GA 3213 Eastern Europe Workshop

Seminar | 2 points
Larry Wolff | Wed 12:30-2:00
KJCC, Room 324

The Eastern Europe workshop is an informal 2-credit lunchtime workshop for graduate students and advanced undergraduates, meeting together to hear speakers and discuss issues concerning Eastern Europe.

EURO-GA 3901 Art & Politics in Europe

Colloquium | Tamsin Shaw
Mon, 12:30-2:30 | KJCC, Room 324

In this course we will look at the relationship between art and politics from the 18th century until the present in Europe. This will involve examining the way in which artists have responded to political thought, as well as the role that political thinkers have seen for art, beginning with Rousseau‘s “Discourse on the Arts and Sciences.” We will examine the role of art in European fascism and the way in which subsequent artistic traditions were affected by the most momentous events of the 20th century. This means we will have to ask how art can respond to the Holocaust and to war on a global scale. We will also look at censorship as a way of understanding the political power of art. We will include not just the visual arts, but also music, opera, film and literature.

SUMMER 2021 COURSES

EURO-GA 2162 The Politics of Immigration and Migration in Europe

Summer Session II | May 24th–July 5th
Seminar | 4 credits
Professor Silvia Maier | Tuw & Thu  10:00-12:00

More than 272 million people—3.5 percent of the world’s population—are international migrants seeking safety and opportunity in a country other than that of their birth. At the same time, immigration and migration are among the most highly contested policy areas in Europe and beyond, viewed as principal drivers of public support for right-wing populist/extremist parties and the surge in nationalist, xenophobic attitudes. In this seminar, we will go beyond the slogans and headlines and delve into the actual politics of immigration and migration in Europe, drawing comparisons with other countries, including the U.S., where applicable. With a focus on the immigrant experience in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Sweden, we will analyze the laws and politics framing migration management at the EU and national levels; examine the consequences of the COVID crisis as well as of the “migrants-as-threats” securitization of migration paradigm; study the most—and least—effective social and labor market integration strategies; critically explore how governments accommodate cultural and legal diversity, especially how their policies—think hijab and family laws—affect women and LGBTQ (im)migrants; understand the rise of “femonationalism” and the link between misogyny and Islamophobia; and, finally, learn how to effectively combat xenophobia and racism. A key goal of the seminar will be to shatter existing stereotypes of immigrants and minorities, particularly Muslim women, as being passive objects of state policies and to highlight their social and political agency. At the end of the seminar, students will have a basic understanding of the politics of (im)migration and integration in Western Europe and on the EU level, of the key issues and themes shaping the debates, policies and laws and, finally, of the creative ways in which immigrants and minorities exercise their political agency and create new spaces of citizenship for themselves. 

FALL 2021 COURSES

EURO-GA 2161 Nationalism, Populism, and the Far Right in Europe

Seminar | 4 credits
Professor Hadas Aron | Wed, 10:15–12:15 
In Person, GCASL, Room 284

This course explores the concepts of identity, ethnicity, race, and nationalism and their political implications. We will examine the nature and origins of nationalism, and the way identity is used in a variety of context: nation building, democratization, political mobilization, and conflict. The last part of the course will delve into the current notable manifestations of nationalism: populist and far right movements. The course will explore these themes drawing on literature from multiple fields including political science, sociology, history, and economics.

EURO-GA 2161.002 Transitions of Democracy in Europe

Seminar | 4 credits
Professor Thomas Zittel | Thu, 12:30–2:30
In Person, Kimmel, Room 904

This seminar discusses key developments in the evolution and advancement of democracy across European nation states. We will go back to its early beginnings in British and French politics, and trace developments in executive accountability, voting rights, proportional representation, and civil rights regimes across Europe. In this, we picture democracy as a system of government that is in a constant state of flux. This involves transitions to democratic governance, transitions between different modes of democracy, but also transitions from democracy. Our aim is to unveil the social, political, and economic sources of democracy to understand where it came from and where it is going.

EURO-GA 2301 What is Europe? 

Seminar | 4 credits
Professor Stephen Gross | Tue, 10:15-12:15
In Person, TISCH, Room LC13

Required course for CEMS MA students. The meaning of Europe has changed significantly over time. After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of communism in Eastern Europe, the term Europe mainly refers to the European Union, even though several European states are not a member of the EU. This course will focus on the post-WWII era to explore the changing meaning of Europe and the formation of the EU. As a major actor in Europe today, the European Union is influencing policies and shaping policy choices in member states on a broad range of topics. We will study major concepts of EU-integration, explore the institutions and policies of the EU and discuss the role of citizens´ participation and euroscepticism. Why do states transfer sovereignty to the EU? What is the role of nation-states today and to what extent can they influence EU-politics? How do citizens view the EU and what is their influence on the politics and policies on the European level? Is crisis management and regulation sufficient, or does the EU need a stronger basis of legitimacy? These are some of the questions we will address in this seminar.  At the end of the semester, students will not only be familiar with key concepts of European integration and governance in the EU, such as economic governance and security policies. They will also have a tool kit for a critical analysis of EU-policies and the key challenges Europe is facing today, such as increasing immigration, economic disparities, and common foreign policy.

EURO-GA 2670 Modern Mediterranean Region

Seminar | 4 credits
Professor Jasmine Samara | Mon, 10:15-12:15
In Person, $5 West 4th Street, Room B01

This course explores debates on culture, politics and identity in the modern Mediterranean. Drawing on history and anthropology, we examine how observers have imagined this region, and the uses and effects of claims about regional cultures. How are belonging, migration and displacement regulated through law? In an era framed around multiple “crises” – refugee, economic, political, and demographic – how has ambivalence about European governance provoked debates on political obligations and resistance? Exploring the politics of memory, we ask: how are imperial pasts invoked to call for certain modes of acknowledging diversity today? A range of materials, from rights campaigns and legal judgments to TV serials and protest songs, will be used to analyze cases from Spain, Portugal, Tunisia, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Cyprus.