This course critically explores the complex challenges and crises which the European Union (EU) has encountered during the 21st century. It evaluates how various crises have challenged the EU; what capacity the EU has to respond effectively to crisis; and what impact individual crises have had on the future of the European integration project. The course will focus specifically on:

• Global financial crisis
• Populism and Eurosceptism 
• Refugee crisis
• Brexit
• Coronavirus pandemic
• Future of Europe

The course will encourage you to think critically about the ways in which the European Union impacts on the economy, domestic politics, national policies, and the lives and lived experiences of all European citizens.

Course Dates and Times:

• Starting Tuesday, 15th February, 2022
• 8 weeks
• 7.00pm-9.00pm
• Fully Online
• Lectures will be recorded

Who Delivers this Course?

The course will be delivered by a team of EU specialists.

Dr. Mary C. Murphy is a Senior Lecturer at UCC and holds a Jean Monnet Chair in European Integration. She has published extensively on Ireland/Northern Ireland, the EU and Brexit. Her book Europe and Northern Ireland’s Future: Negotiating Brexit’s Unique Case (Agenda Publishing 2018), was one of the first published studies of Northern Ireland and Brexit. Her most recent book (co-written with Jonathan Evershed) A Troubled Constitutional Future: Northern Ireland after Brexit is published in March 2022.

Dr. Barry Colfer is Director for Research at the Institute for International and European Affairs (IIEA).

Dr. Tony Costello is based at Liverpool Hope University and has a particular interest in the economic policies of the EU. His most recent research evaluates how citizens shape the future of Europe.

Aideen Elliott is a PhD candidate in the Department of Anthropology at Maynooth University. Her PhD research 'Beyond the Borders: EU Migration Policy Making' is funded by the Irish Research Council Government of Ireland Scholarship. Aideen received her MA in Social Anthropology of Development from SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies) University of London.

Guy Gerba is a PhD candidate at UCC studying populist radical right parties. He has a degree in Chemistry and Political Science and a Masters in International Politics from Bar Ilan University (Israel); and an MA European Politics and Policy from UCD.

Francis Jacobs is an Adjunct Senior Research Fellow at UCD and a Visiting Professor at the Collegio Europeo in Parma. From 1979-2016, Francis worked for the European Parliament, including as head of the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Ireland. His most recent book The EU after Brexit: Political and Institutional Implications was published in 2018. 

The delivery of this course is supported by the Erasmus+ Jean Monnet programme. 

For further information on course content and delivery, please contact : Mary C. Murphy, maryc.murphy@ucc.ie

For queries in relation to the online registration process, please contact cpd@ucc.ie