EU External Relations: Competing Regionalism in Eurasia

ended

The Jean Monnet Chair in EU External Relations: Competing Regionalism in Eurasia will focus on the EU’s role in the changing global economic environment. The shifting balance of power, the increased assertiveness of China at global level, the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the responses of the EU to these dynamics are issues of high salience at the academic level, in Canada and internationally. The Chair will support teaching, public and policy debates, and dissemination of resources on the EU as a foreign policy actor, the EU’s sponsored policies within the Eurasian region and the EU-China relations. In teaching, the graduate and undergraduate courses proposed by the Chair will expand the EU course offerings in an area of study that is currently minimally addressed at Carleton University. The objectives of the courses are a) to deepen knowledge of the EU’s role in international affairs among students who are considering future careers in policy; b) to increase the exposure to EU as a global actor among students from other fields of study such as history, business, and international affairs; and c) to provide innovative teaching methods that will engage students and will ensure a deep understanding of the material. The Chair proposes innovative teaching methods including simulations, debates, co-teaching with European visitors, a graduate students conference and a summer course to attract interested policy makers. New courses will deepen the knowledge of students specializing in EU studies but also reach an estimated additional 100 students who would not otherwise be exposed to EU studies. To target scholars, policy makers and civil society, the Chair will organize a major event each year on a topic related to EU regionalism, EU-China relations, and global economic governance. The Chair will host guest lectures and will disseminate virtual outreach material to provide a platform for debate on EU’s foreign policy and potential implications for Canada-EU relations.