Teaching

European University Institute, Florence

Research Seminar, Recent Controversies in the History of European Cooperation and Integration (2024/25)

This research seminar explores what recent controversies animated the field of European cooperation and integration history, and how these controversies reignite — or not — older ones. Is European integration a primarily economic or political project? Is the European Economic Community a sui generis endeavour? Can we talk of a European foreign policy? Is it possible to write a supranational history of Europe? The seminar will discuss the ways in which the history of European integration is written and how it develops in parallel to other related fields and disciplines (e.g. sociology, political science, international relations…). We will reflect on the main interpretations and methodological tools with the aim of familiarizing researchers with the varieties of approaches, methods, and analytical scope of the genre.

Research Seminar, The Study of Elites (2023/24, organised with Dr Pierre Alayrac)

This research seminar explores the ways in which elites are defined and studied across different fields of historiography, from the late nineteenth century to the present. We will reflect on the main interpretations and methodological approaches with the aim of familiarizing researchers with the varieties of approaches, methods, and analytical scope of the genre. Discussions will focus on political and economic elites. We will take into consideration a wide range of actors, including not only state elites but also private actors.

Area Seminar, Digital Methods in History (2023/24, with Professor Giancarlo Casale)

The seminar aims to introduce, discuss and criticise the use of digital methods in history. The seminar understands digital methods in their broadest sense, namely, from taking notes on a computer and the organisation of research photos, to network analysis and text mining. The seminar encourages a critical self-reflection on the historian’s digital toolbox in order to better grasp what tools can be used or not used in one’s own research. Finally, the seminar is an opportunity for the Department’s faculty to come and discuss their own digital practices whenever relevant.

After a 2 hours introductory session focused on a discussion of the broad themes of the seminar and the digital practice of each participant, the seminar will be divided in four blocs of four hours each, divided in two hours of ‘lab’ followed by two hours of discussion on the topic and relevant historiography. The four blocs will focus on: organising research photos, mapping, network analysis and text mining.

Research Seminar, History of European Cooperation and Integration (2022/23)

This research seminar explores the historiography on European cooperation and integration in the twentieth century. We will reflect on the main interpretations and methodological approaches with the aim of familiarizing researchers with the field’s varieties of focus, methods (with a particular attention on prosopography and digital history), and analytical scope. Discussions will take into consideration a wide range of actors, including not only the European Economic Community/European Union but also international institutions such the League of Nations and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; business and social actors; the influence and evolution of economic thought.

Research Seminar, History of European Integration (2017/18, organised with Professor Federico Romero and Dr Benedetto Zaccaria)

European University Institute, Florence

This research seminar explores the historiography on European integration and related areas of European cooperation in the postwar period. We will first review the main interpretations and methodological approaches with the aim of familiarizing researchers with the field’s varieties of focus, methods, and analytical scope. The seminar will then concentrate on the thematic areas and international policy issues that most affected European integration from the 1970s to the 1990s, reviewing the debates that reshaped integrative trends in the late 20th century.

University of Glasgow

Global Business Environment (Academic years 2014/15, 2015/16, and 2016/17)

Management Issues & Controversies (2014/15, 2015/16, and 2016/17)

The Eurozone Political Economy (Academic year 2017/18, 2018/19, 2019/20)

Economic & Social History 1B: Themes in Globalisation, 1914-c2008 (2011/12)

European Business Environment, MSc in International Business and Entrepreneurship (2011/12)

European Business Context (2020/21)

Institute for European Studies, Université Libre de Bruxelles

European Economic Policy, POLI-O-0408 / European Economic and Monetary Governance POLI-O-406 (2014/15 to 2017/18)

Institute for European Studies, Université Libre de Bruxelles

The course aims to develop students’ knowledge of the principles and functioning of EU economic policy-making, from a long-term perspective.

Outline of sessions’ topics: 1. General course introduction – EU institutions & policies; 2. European economic integration: a long view; 3. The EU single market; 4. The creation of the euro; 5. The banking union; 6. The coordination of EU member states’ budgets; 7. The impossible fiscal union?; 8. The Eurozone crisis and general conclusion

London School of Economics

HY 116 – International History since 1890 (2010/11)

HY 206 – The International History of the Cold War, 1945-1975 (2008/09)

Keio University, Japan

History of European Integration in the Twentieth Century (2011)

Keio University, Tokyo

This course investigates the process of European cooperation and integration in the 20th century, asking why, how, and to what extent European governments decided to cooperate and eventually (partly) share sovereignty. The first section provides an overview of European integration from the late nineteenth century until the Treaties of Rome; the second section studies European integration from the Treaties of Rome until the Maastricht Treaty; finally the third section outlines thematic overviews.

Outline of Seminar Topics: 1. Introduction: sources, methodology and historiographical debates; I – European integration from the late nineteenth century until the Treaties of Rome: 2. Early attempts at European cooperation in the first half of the twentieth century; 3. From the Marshall Plan to the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC); 4. The 1950s: The failure of the European Defence Community (EDC), the Treaties of Rome negotiations and the creation of the European Economic Community (EEC). II – From the Treaties of Rome to the Treaty of Maastricht: 5. The 1960s and the Gaullist challenge; 6. The 1970s: crises and institutional reform; 7. The 1980s and the Single European Act. III – Thematic overviews: 8. The external dimension of European integration: foreign policy and defence cooperation; the 1990s and the Maastricht Treaty; 9. From monetary cooperation to monetary integration: the European Payments Union (EPU), the Werner Plan, the European Monetary System (EMS), the Delors Report and the euro; 10. Transnational non-governmental actors and European integration; 11. Supranational actors and European integration; 12. Recapitulation, general conclusions and discussion of recent developments (in particular the study of the links between European integration and the Cold War)

University of Economics, Prague

European Economic Cooperation and Integration since 1945 (2016)

University of Economics, Prague

The course aims to develop students’ knowledge of the principles and functioning of EU economic and monetary policy-making, from a historical perspective.

Outline of sessions’ topics: 1. General course introduction – EU institutions & policies; 2. European economic integration from the late 19th century until the present day; 3. The development of the EU single market; 4. European monetary cooperation and integration; 5. Eurozone crisis and reform

The University of Tokyo, Japan

The Eurozone Political Economy (2020)

University of Tokyo

This course aims to develop students’ knowledge of the Eurozone’s political economy, focusing in particular on monetary policy and banking from a long-term perspective. It also aims to outline the economic and historical contexts in which the euro was created. The course explores the causes and consequences of the design failures of the Eurozone; presents the political, economic and financial implications of the creation of the euro; and introduces the challenges of the Eurozone in a globalised world.

Topics include: why the euro was created; how the European Central Bank and the Eurosystem function; the EU single market; macroeconomic policy coordination; fiscal integration; banking regulation and supervision; and contemporary challenges.