Centre for European Studies

Background
The Centre for European Studies serves as a focal point for research and teaching concerned with both the European Union and the broader historical and cultural processes which have shaped contemporary Europe. The present Centre carries on an established tradition of excellence at Queen’s University in the area of interdisciplinary European Studies.

The University established an Institute of European Studies in 1993 as a response to the increasing importance of the academic study of Europe and its relevance to the needs of the UK and Northern Ireland. The Institute grew steadily in reputation and rapidly became one of the leading centres for teaching and research on contemporary Europe among UK and Irish Universities. In 1998 the European Commission recognised the Institute's achievements when it designated Queen's as one of the first twenty-five Jean Monnet European Centres of Excellence in the whole of the European Union. The strong international standing of the European Studies research grouping was further recognised by the achievement of a grade of 5A in the 2001 UK Research Assessment Exercise. The Institute of European Studies was a founding unit of the School of Politics and International Studies created in 2003.

Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence
The Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence currently hosts a Jean Monnet Chair on European Foreign and Security Policy, held by Dr David Phinnemore .

Research
The Centre is at the heart of a thriving research culture encompassing a broad spectrum of interests. The nine members of academic staff currently affiliated with the Centre have recognised expertise in the areas of European Union Politics and Policy, Comparative European Politics, Modern European History, European Cultural Identities, European Law, International Relations, and International Political Economy. The current research of members of the Centre encompasses such topics as: Confessional Identity in Early Modern Europe; Regionalism and Minority Nationalism in the EU; EU Law and Enlargement; Enlargement and EU Constitutional Reform Processes; EU Competition Policy; the Politics of the European Human Rights Regime; Social and Constitutional Norms in World Politics; Globalisation and Global Financial Governance; and the Post-War History of European Integration and Transatlantic Relations. Members of the Centre are currently involved in a number of major collaborative research projects and international research networks, including participation in the EU Fifth Framework Programme on ‘The European Union and Border Conflicts’ ( http://www.euborderconf.bham.ac.uk ) and the EU Sixth Framework Programme on ‘Efficient and Democratic Government in a Multilevel Europe’ ( http://www.mzes.uni-mannheim.de/projekte/connex/ ).

A substantial cohort of postgraduate research students are affiliated with the Centre and actively participate in the full range of activities organised under its auspices. Recently completed PhD theses have explored such topics as the role of the Eurogroup as a deliberative forum in the setting of European economic policy; the impact of differing federal political arrangements on national higher education policy; and the representation of regional interests in the European Union, using Northern Ireland as a case study. Current PhD theses cover a wide range of topics concerned with aspects of EU policy, law and enlargement, as well as with broader processes of ‘Europeanisation’.

The Centre’s research activities include a regular seminar series, as well as hosting two prestigious, international on-line paper series. The Queen's Papers on Europeanisation contribute to the theoretical development and empirical exploration of 'Europeanisation' in a way that straddles disciplines and facilitates a dialogue between contending perspectives. The Constitutionalism Web-Papers (ConWEB) publish work in progress on constitutionalism and governance beyond the state. The 2004-05 academic year will also see the launch of the Queen’s European Studies Workshops, regularly bringing together interdisciplinary groups of scholars for the intensive exploration of selected themes.

Teaching
Both undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes in European Studies are offered within the School of Politics and International Studies. The four-year BA in European Studies combines the interdisciplinary study of contemporary European Politics and Society with the intensive study of a major continental European language (French, German, or Spanish). The MA in European Integration and Public Policy (1 year full-time; 2 years part-time) provides an advanced-level grounding in the structures, theories and policies of the European Union, while also examining the deeper processes of Europeanisation reshaping European polities and societies.

Involvement with the Policy Community
The Centre also maintains an active network of contacts with the wider policy-making community in Northern Ireland. In addition to organising regular events and conferences the Centre also acts as the host for European Liaison, a framework bringing together groups, organisations and individuals in Northern Ireland with a direct interest in the European Union and its policies and programmes as they affect the province.

Contact
Mrs Catherine Coll
Centre for European Studies
School of Politics and International Studies
Queen’s University
Belfast BT7 1NN
Northern Ireland

Tel. 028 9097 3449
e-mail c.madden@qub.ac.uk

External Links

University Association for Contemporary European Studies ( http://www.uaces.org )

European Studies: An Interdisciplinary Series in European Culture, History and Politics ( http://www.rodopi.nl/senj.asp?SerieId=YES )