History of European cooperation since 1919

Europe faces a number of serious shared challenges, ranging from security, economic organisation, environmental sustainability, migration and the protection of minorities, to the erosion of democracy. However, at a time when European cooperation seems absolutely paramount, the European Union looks fragile, challenged by Brexit and a surge in nationalist political parties. Policy makers and scholars struggle to explain the nature of the challenges and provide suitable solutions. A key reason for this is that contemporary political debate cannot draw on a coherent understanding of the deep historical roots of both the challenges currently faced and the attempts to solve them. Since the First World War, the European states have experimented with multiple forms of cooperation in order to tackle many of the fundamental challenges that are still with us today. In the last hundred years, European cooperation has been an ongoing process materializing in a variety of ways, from alliances to technical cooperation and international and regional organisations. Although most of these cooperative experiments have been studied by social scientists, legal scholars or historians, the field remains deeply fragmented. Likewise, the normative biases of cooperation, i.e. the ideologies and interests it facilitated, are underexplored, making it difficult for contemporary political debate to fully grasp the new nationalist critique of the EU.

Theme

The theme of the course will be European cooperation from 1920 to the present day, encompassing not only the history of the European Union and of its forerunner since 1950, but also all forms of European cooperation with an element of institutional formalization, from 1919, when the League of Nations and the International Labour Organisation, two international organisations with a large European operative basis, were founded. Beyond the European Union, it also includes organisations such as the Council of Europe, OEEC/OECD, NATO, the Comecon (the organisation of economic cooperation of the Eastern bloc) and the OSCE (the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe created in 1975). It also includes analyses of the societal actors that either underpinned or opposed closer European integration, ranging from non-state actors such as transnational political party organizations, professional associations and stable cartels among companies. Hence the course touches on a wide variety of sub-disciplines, including political, economic, social, cultural, legal, diplomatic and military history.

The joint MA-Phd course combines a weekly web-seminar over 21 weeks and

  • an intensive one-week field trip at the Historical Archives of the European Union (HAEU) in Florence to learn historical methodology when working on archives. The HAEU gathers materials from the European Union, but also from many other institutions, associations and actors dealing with European cooperation since 1919.
  • a three-day seminar in late May 2022 to discuss the exam papers in progress before their delivery on 15 June. Università degli Studi di Milano and the Fondazione Feltrinelli are joint hosts of this session.

Although the course plans to take advantage of the advances in online teaching, brought to the fore by the covid-19 epidemic, the two physical meetings are crucial to create a sense of team spirit, hands-on academic cooperation and eventually in-depth learning. Although mostly historical in its in approach, this seminar will welcome masters and PhD students from all disciplines that require academic historical skills.

Teaching will be in English. All costs related to participating in the field-trip and the three-day seminar are covered, including travelling, hotel and food.

ECTS

This MA-Phd course can be followed by history students at the SAXO Institute as a Område B course with particular requirements in source-based research (15 ECTS). It can also be followed by doctoral students at the Faculty of the Humanities interested in acquiring historical methodology and archival skills. (9,6 ECTS)

The 4EU+ European University Alliance has one vision: to create a new quality of cooperation in teaching, education, research and administration. The cooperation is based on a common understanding of the idea of the European university that builds on academic freedom and autonomy and ensures fair access and participation in education.

To build this new kind of integrated European university system, the 4EU+ Alliance will focus on three challenges:

  • Boost Meaningful Mobility – Better integrating our curricula and making mobility seamless for students in terms of education and employment prospects, while accommodating diverse needs and preferences.
  • Increase inclusiveness and balance at a European level - Redressing inequalities in university capabilities to attract funding, gain international visibility and fully develop their potential in education, research, innovation and employment opportunities.
  • Develop a common challenge-based framework for education – Designing flexible learning paths and ensuring graduates have 21st-century skills that combine research-based education, diverse language skills and a strong global and European outlook.

The Rectors of six partner universities—Charles, Heidelberg and Sorbonne Universities, and the Universities of Copenhagen, Milan and Warsaw—have come together to establish a shared, seamless infrastructure, which will bring together professors, researchers, students and staff from six institutions.

The 4EU+ mission is to develop a barrier-free and continuously deepening cooperation in education, research and innovation within the Alliance. Through this collaboration and working in partnerships, we serve society to the highest level with our core values:

  • Academic and research freedom
  • Democratization of education
  • Students at the centre
  • Collaboration in an interdisciplinary approach
  • Research excellence
  • Creativity and openness
  • Integrity
  • Internationalization