210105 SE M5: European Public Policy for the Digital Age (2025S)

Current developments in the context of digitalisation have a major influence on how politics, the economy, and society are thought of and shaped by the European Union (EU). The increasingly problematic role of “Big Tech” companies, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russian war of aggression on Ukraine are just a few examples of the growing importance of digitalization-related EU policy becoming clear. The seminar, therefore, begins with an introduction to current EU digitization-related debates. The effects of digitalization processes and political responses to current challenges for the European economy and society will be discussed. In terms of content, we focus on developments in “classic” policy areas of European integration and selected topics such as the (digital) single market and the EU’s economic policies. In addition, we address other selected topics, such as the regulation of “Big Tech” companies, questions about the enforcement of fundamental EU values, such as data protection, and a possible realignment of the European integration process towards “digital sovereignty” and “strategic autonomy”. One particular focus of the class will be using empirical data and applying (primarily qualitative) political science methods.

Students will work on content in fixed and varying groups and have the opportunity for student exchange in groups and for discussion in the seminar. Student preparation and follow-up of seminar content is expected, as in the face-to-face sessions of the course, students build on the basic knowledge they have acquired through different learning and discussion formats. Different group work, presentation and discussion formats are used.

In the course, in addition to active participation and appropriate self-study, students give a mandatory presentation on a topic of their choosing. On the other hand, the students individually formulate an approximately 2-page discussion or thesis paper based on the basic literature. Finally, the students write an approximately 12-15-page seminar paper to answer a self-selected question with an EU connection.