European Society, Economy and Geography

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 5
• Convenor: Professor Paul Watt
• Assessment: two 1500-word essays (50% each)

The module introduces post-1945 Europe and the role of the European Union. It then moves on to examine the social and geographical nature of Europe focusing on topics such as European welfare states, poverty and social exclusion, migration and migration policy. The second part of the course discusses economic change in terms of Europe’s relationship to an increasingly global economy and the processes of growth, convergence and crisis that are affecting national and regional development

Indicative module content 

• Social, economic and geographical change in Europe
• European welfare states and social policy
• Poverty and social exclusion in Europe
• Migration and migration policy
• Causes and consequences of Brexit
• Europe and the global economy
• European economy and Inequality
• Financial crisis and austerity

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

• outline and explain social, urban and economic change within Europe
• identify and explain patterns of social and geographical inequality
• analyse the place of Europe within an increasingly global economy
• present and evaluate some of the principal environmental problems and choices Europe faces
• demonstrate the skills necessary to present your views in course essays, examination essays and class discussions.