Resources

Examples of Essay Questions

1. Examine the different meanings of the concept 'Europeanization'. How useful is the concept?

2. 'An enlargement too far'. Is this a fair analysis of the recent enlargement of the EU?

3. 'If member states can sign up to a common currency they can sign up to anything'. Discuss

4. How can we explain why the European Parliament appears to be the exception to the 'rule' that legislatures have generally become weaker over time?

5. 'Whether in "crisis" or not, the EU will continue to produce more and more EU public policy'. Discuss

6. Compare and contrast the roles of the Council and ECJ in the European policy process

7. Analyze the view that the Commission is a typical bureaucracy, able to 'govern' without accountability.

8. If it is true that he/she who implements decides, then why do member states implement any EU laws/decisions?

9. To what extent has the EU developed a foreign policy and by what means?

10. Does the history of the EU lead us conclude that it has now reached a stable equilibrium?

11. Is the EU a state?

12. Which theoretical approaches to the study of the EU do you find most convincing? Why?

13. 'Modern politics is about regulation'. This is as true for the EU s it is for nation states. Discuss.

14. Do interest groups weaken or strengthen EU democracy?

15. Is the EU democratic?

16. Analyze the role of regions as policy actors in the EU

17. What functions do European level elections perform?

18. What can a study of the EU budgetary process tell us about the EU policy style?