This course aims at offering students a clear overview of the economic, political, social and diplomatic issues raised by recent institutional developments of the European Union. On the one hand, it consolidates knowledge of institutional structures and key policy-making processes in the recent years. On the other, it raises critical awareness of the deeper theoretical and practical questions these developments pose. One of the main components of the course is the growing importance of globalization and the opening of Europe to other regions of the world, in particular China and East-Asia. The course integrates theoretical perspectives and case studies.