Course description Europe is, as Anthony Pagden defined it, a protean word. While immediately recognisable to most of its users, a deeper enquiry will reveal that what we mean by Europe may change from person to person and from year to year. The objective of this course is to encourage students to reflect on the many meanings of Europe. It will look at how history, religion and national traditions contribute to shaping certain understandings of Europe, and how this is reflected on the EU. It will also explore alternative narratives of European unity, in order to show that the European Union was (and possibly, still is) only one of the possible avenues for a united Europe. By the end of this course, students will have a keen sense of the number of ways in which Europe can be defined and how the meaning of Europe has changed and adapted to different contexts, visions and eras. Assessment Participation: 40% (Class assignment in week 3 will count towards 10% of participation grade) One essay plan (500-750 words maximum): 15% One full essay (1800-2000 words maximum): 45% Session 1: Defining Europe The first introductory class will reflect on the notion of Europe. It will ask students to think about how to define Europe, how to trace its borders and the relationship between Europe and the rest of the world. Session 2: Europe as a historical construct This session will reflect on some of the historical narratives of Europe. Starting from narratives of a Christian Europe and concluding with the Cold War, it will seek to understand if there ever was one Europe in history. Session 3: Europe or Europes? National views of the European project This session proposes to reflect on how different nations view Europe and the European project. Its aim is to highlight how different countries may hold different conceptions of European integration. In this session we will also discuss the first assignment that students will have to submit. Session 4: Europe and religion: Is Europe a Christian club? This session reflects on whether religion can help us understand what Europe is. Is asks whether Christianity is a uniting or a dividing factor and if it pays to see Europe as some kind of Christian club. It also reflects on the place of Judaism and Islam in contemporary Europe, seeking to understand their role as insiders/outsiders. Session 3: Political parties and Europe This session compares the approach of political parties and intellectuals to Europe. It will look at how parties, intellectuals and movements of the Left and the Right have thought about Europe as a political project and how they have positioned themselves on the European Union. Students will work in groups to define their party group’s platform for the 2019 EU elections. The platforms will then be presented to the rest of the class. Session 6: Another Europe is possible? This class will reflect on the readings of the previous classes and consider if the current form of the European Union was somewhat of a necessary outcome, or if it is possible to think differently about Europe and the European project. It will look specifically at alternative narratives of Europe, such as that of the Europe of the Nations and the Progressive agenda for Europe, and reflect on citizen perceptions of the EU project.