Explanations of people’s perceptions towards the EU system of legitimate governance and how these have acquired a strong unprecedented partisan polarization will be further investigated. In the seminar students will be stimulated to actively participate by debating some crucial issues. In particular, the seminar covers people’s reactions to economic distress, including changing perceptions of the EU, resilience of European identity, social and political determinants of EU allegiance, social and political reaction to the crisis (Prof. P. Bellucci).

Learning outcomes include:

• Capacity to read scientific literature and link theoretical arguments to empirical/behavioural consequences.
• Capacity to compare EU member states involvement and reaction to the economic/social crisis, nonetheless their contribution to EU supranational policy making.