After successful completion of the course, students are familiar with selected stages of the history and social transformations of Europe, its institutions and processes of integration. They are able to read critically and deconstruct different narratives of Europe. They will have a deeper understanding of

·         the history of Europe

·         the political, legal, social and cultural governance of the EU

·         processes of integration: strategies and mechanisms of political, social and cultural inclusion and exclusion, democratic backsliding

·         transformations and challenges in Europe: Media, migration, colonialism, conflict, religion, security and defense politics

·         concepts of Europeanness in everyday life

·         representations of Europe in the arts

Furthermore, students examine the historical and contemporary roles of social organizations and their actions within global systems. They gain partial understanding of the complexity of elements important to members of other cultures in relation to history, values, politics, communication styles, economy, or beliefs and practices. Students are furthermore able to question assumptions and identify relevant contexts and they can identify their own and others' assumptions and relevant contexts when presenting a position.

The non-subject related learning outcomes have been formulated in accordance with the Aurora Competence Framework (LOUIS), which is based on the VALUE rubrics developed by the AAC&U.

This course is an introduction to studying the visions, realities and challenges of Europe and European integration in the making. Trans-European integration, co-operations and conflicts are addressed from a historical and contemporary perspective and by analyzing political institutions, societal objectives and symbolic representations in law, media, film, literature, popular culture, arts and everyday life.

The course will cover:

●        European integration and EU governance

●        History of Europe: Political, Philosophical, Legal, Religious, Social and Cultural Dimensions

●        Processes of Europeanization: Strategies and Mechanisms of Inclusion and Exclusion

●        Migration and Mobility

●        EU media

●        EU economic governance, Security and Defense Policy, discussion on democratic backsliding

●        Imagined Others and Memory Cultures

●        Narratives of Europe in Film, Literature and Art

Online lectures and exercises such as analysis of documents, visual sources and graphs; group discussions in breakout rooms; flipped classroom; preparatory reading.

active participation, multiple choice test on 4 December 2026, 10.15-11.45am

Please note that this is an online-course, sessions will not be recorded and online attendance is mandatory. If you miss more than 3 lectures, you will not be allowed to take the exam.

Patel, Kiran Klaus (2020). Project Europe: A History. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108848893 (open access through University Library Innsbruck with your login).

Direct Link: https://login.i-med.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108848893

The lecture is an Aurora Alliance (AURORA – Universität Innsbruck (uibk.ac.at) event.

Access to virtual classroom: Please enter the virtual classroom through OLAT where you find access to BigBlueButton.