OAAG 1020 - A Political Economy of the EU Agrifood System Transformation

This course deals with the political economy of the EU agrifood system transformation through two intertwinned questions: How has the European construction affected the way in which agriculture and food policies have evolved in the EU? Conversely, to what extent the centrality of agricultural policy in the EU construction has affected political dynamics? The course combines three types of approach: a historical approach; a country-focused approach, looking at the political economy of a few countries within and outside the EU; and a socio-technical & socio-political approach, looking at more specific policy files / agrifood questions, such as: farm structures, the processing industry, or food habits.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Students will acquire a basic knowledge about existing theories of policy changes in the European Union how these theories can be applied to account for empirical cases
• Through their essay, students will develop skills in policy analysis and how to use it to define intervention strategy in the policy debate.
• Students will acquire an historical knowledge of the transformation of EU agrifood policies

4.Students will develop / strengthen skills in essay writing and group presentation.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Throughout the course, students will develop both soft skills and hard skills:

• Soft skills: analytical skills / policy problems analysis; teamwork skills to prepare the oral group presentation
• Hard skills: presentation skills for oral presentation; qualitative data analysis for the essay on one particular policy change.

Constructive feedback will be given to students after their submission for the simulation game in the form of a short, written comment. In preparation of their final paper, students will have the opportunity to exchange with N. Bolduc to frame their essay, identify the key resources to deal with the chosen topic, get feedback on a provisional outline. All students may contact N. Bolduc for a meeting on their simulation game paper or their final paper.

Assessment will be based on the following:

• A preparation paper with a group of 2-3 students to prepare for the simulation negotiation game. Students will choose a group to represent at the beginning of the semester and then prepare an initial document for the simulation game outlining their position. This should include the issues at stake for the group they are representing, their resources to obtain their objectives, their strategy, and their constraints. This paper needs to be turned in on the day of the simulation. This will account for 25% of the final grade.
• Students will be asked to participate in the in-class simulation game that will occur during session 9. Their participation will be worth 10% of the final grade.
• A final essay dealing with a question of policy or politics in the field of agrifood: analysing a key policy or political situation, what were its key drivers and what it has resulted in. The essay should be 3,000-4,000 words long, backed by at least 8 academic references (no maximum!). This will account for 65% of the final grade.

• Attendance: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Online activities: 4 seminars of two hour each across the semester/ 8 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 1 hours a week / 12 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 1 hours a week / 12 hours a semester
• Research and Writing for Individual Assessments: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester