Projektbeschreibung

Der Jean-Monnet-Lehrstuhl für Politische Wissenschaft und Europäische Integration beabsichtig t im Rahmen des Projekts "Mehrebenendemokratie und interparlamentarische Zusammenarbeit: Auf dem Weg zu einem ebenenübergreifenden Parlamentarismus" (MILDIPA), die wissenschaftliche und öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit auf die Rollen und Funktionen der nationalen Parlamente und des Europäischen Parlaments in der Europapolitik zu lenken. Vor dem Hintergrund der wissenschaftlichen und öffentlichen Debatte über die demokratischen Grundlagen der Union und die Beziehungen zwischen der EU und ihren BürgerInnen wird MILDIPA Grundlagen, Entwicklung und Praxis der interparlamentarischen Zusammenarbeit analysieren und diskutieren. Das Projekt spricht dabei Studierende, Wissenschaft und die breitere Öffentlichkeit an. Es besteht aus vier Elementen: (1) traditionelle und innovative Lehrmodule für Studierende der BA-, MA- und PhD-Studiengänge über das Europäische Parlament und die Europawahlen, Europäische Parteien und Parteienpolitik in der EU, Europapolitik in den nationalen Parlamenten, sowie Theorie und Praxis der interparlamentarischen Zusammenarbeit, (2) eine Workshop- und Forschungsseminarreihe über die Herausforderungen, Anreizstrukturen und neueren Entwicklungen der interparlamentarischen Zusammenarbeit, (3) ein interparlamentarischer Kongress und (4) eine Website, die Zugang bietet zu (a) den Universitätsvorlesungen, Workshops, Seminaren und des Kongresses, sowie zu (b) einem neuartigen Literatur- und Dokumentationsportal zur interparlamentarischen Zusammenarbeit. Diese Werkzeuge dienen der Förderung interaktiver/n Forschung, Studiums und Diskussion zwischen Studierenden, politischer Praxis, Wissenschaft und der breiten Öffentlichkeit. Alle Ergebnisse werden aktiv in einer Reihe von Medien dokumentiert: (1) durch die laufende Pflege des Informationsportals, (2) durch eine Monographie des Lehrstuhlinhabers über "Inter-parliamentary Europe“ (Palgrave Macmillan 2016), und (3) referierter Sammelbände (Innsbruck University Press) aus der Seminar- und Workshopreihe.

Project Outline

The project „Multi-level democracy and inter-parliamentary cooperation: Progressing towards cross-level parliamentarism” (MILDIPA) intends to turn the academic and public spotlight on the roles and functions of national parliaments and the European Parliament in EU policy-making. Against the background of the academic and public debate on the democratic foundations of the Union and the relations between the EU and its citizens, MILDIPA will look at the foundations, development and practice of inter-parliamentary cooperation in order to discuss prospects for its future. The project aims to attract a high level of student, academic and wider public feedback. It consists of four elements: (1.) traditional and innovative teaching modules for both undergraduate and graduate students covering the European Parliament and European elections, European parties and party politics in the EU, European policy-making in national parliaments, and inter-parliamentary cooperation between both levels of parliaments, (2.) a workshop and research seminar series on challenges, opportunity structures and new developments in inter-parliamentary cooperation, (3.) an inter-parliamentary congress, and (4.) a website giving access to the deliverables of the university lectures, workshops, seminars and the congress, as well as providing a unique portal on literature and documents on inter-parliamentary cooperation. These tools will provide means to foster interactive research, study and debate between students and political, academic and civil society actors, as well as the broader public. All results will be actively disseminated in a range of media: (1.) on the internet thanks to the continued maintenance and promotion of the information portal, (2.) in hard print form, through the Chair’s book on “Inter-parliamentary Europe” (with Palgrave Macmillan), and (3.) through edited volumes (with Innsbruck University Press) bringing together peer-reviewed papers of the workshop and seminars series.

The University of Innsbruck’s Chairholder for Political Science and European integration studies, has been successful in his bid for the prestigious Jean Monnet funding grant, which will enhance research, teaching and learning on the European Union (EU). Part of the European Union’s (EU) long-established Lifelong Learning Programme now known as ‘Erasmus Plus’, Jean Monnet activities are designed to stimulate excellence in teaching, research, reflection and debate in any aspect of European integration studies in higher education institutions within and beyond the EU. Jean Monnet funding is awarded to academics who display excellence in both teaching and research, and whose institutions support cutting-edge EU studies within their political science offerings. The grant received by the University is the Jean Monnet Chair, awarded to Prof. Dr. Andreas Maurer, Professor for Political Science and European integration studies. Entitled “Multi-level democracy and inter-parliamentary cooperation: Progressing towards cross-level parliamentarism” (MILDIPA), the Chair’s role is designed to offer a wide range of research dissemination, teaching and learning activities, from engaging with policy-makers, to local, inter-regional and national civil society.