The Jean Monnet Chair “Democracy in the European Union”, held by Professor Achim Hurrelmann, was funded between 2015 and 2018 by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union. Its thematic emphasis was on the analysis of democratic institutions, processes, and practices in the EU’s multilevel system. The Chair provided a critical assessment of the EU’s democratic achievements and challenges in the context of developments such as the Eurozone crisis and Brexit, and facilitated discussions of how these affected EU-Canada relations.
In the area of teaching, the Chair helped grow Carleton’s undergraduate programs in European Studies by contributing to a new introductory course for incoming students (EURR 1001) and by establishing a regular distance learning option for advanced undergraduates (PSCI 3207). It strengthened graduate programs in the field by expanding course offerings on democracy in the EU (EURR/PSCI 5113) and pioneering innovative course delivery formats, such as the use of simulations and “blended” (part-online) course offerings (EURR 5108/PSCI 5103). The Chairholder was also one of the editors of a textbook on EU Studies, first published in 2018, that is aimed specifically at Canadian undergraduate students.
In the areas of research and policy advice, the Chair helped reinforce Carleton University’s role as a leading Canadian institution in the field of EU Studies by organizing a diverse range of activities. These included high-profile academic and outreach events, held in Ottawa as well as in Toronto, that engaged scholars, the policy community, and civil society. The Chair used a broad range of dissemination tools, including a symposium in a leading academic journal and a videotaped roundtable discussion.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them.
