EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS
Bachelor TR-NQF-HE: Level 6 QF-EHEA: First Cycle EQF-LLL: Level 6

Course Introduction and Application Information

Course Code Course Name Semester Theoretical Practical Credit ECTS
POL3773 Gastropolitics Fall 3 0 3 6
This catalog is for information purposes. Course status is determined by the relevant department at the beginning of semester.

Basic information

Language of instruction: English
Type of course: Departmental Elective
Course Level: Bachelor’s Degree (First Cycle)
Mode of Delivery: Hybrid
Course Coordinator : Assoc. Prof. ESRA ALBAYRAKOĞLU
Recommended Optional Program Components: None
Course Objectives: This course offers political, economic and sociological approaches and examines food in relation to several topics including identity, politics, global institutions, and social inequalities. It questions how global/local politics and what we eat is related by placing food at the center of the debate. Embracing an interdisciplinary approach, Food, Politics and Society aims to provide the students with both theoretical and case-based issues related to contemporary realm of politics of food in which not only sociologist and political scientists but also policy-makers, economists, environmentalists, civil society platforms seek to contribute.

Learning Outcomes

The students who have succeeded in this course;
The students who have succeeded in this course;
1. Comprehend theoretical framework in relation to food and politics;
2. Discuss politics of food an interdisciplinary outlook including political science, sociology and political economy;
3. Support the theoretical framework with current examples;
4. Familiarize with issues related to food and engage with the food and politics relationship in their daily lives.
5. Develop competencies with respect to active inquiry and critical thinking.

Course Content

Food and politics; food and identity; food and nationalism; food, state and power; gastro-diplomacy; food and glocalization; food and environmental politics; international response to food, hunger and inequalities; rising global food trends; tracing food and politics in movies.

Weekly Detailed Course Contents

Week Subject Related Preparation
1) Introduction: Food is political
2) Food and Identity
3) Food and Nationalism
4) Food and Social Change
5) Food, State and Power
6) Gastro-diplomacy
7) Food and Glocalization
8) DIPLOMACY ON THE MENU – GROUP DISCUSSION
9) Food Sovereignty and Political Economy of Food
10) Food and Environmental Politics
11) International Response to Food, Hunger, Inequalities
12) Rising Global Political Food-Trends: Waste not, Vegetarianism, SlowFood
13) Tracing Food and Politics in Movies
14) Review

Sources

Course Notes / Textbooks: Weekly readings will be uploaded altogether at the beginning of the semester. The PPT files will be shared following each lecture. If you cannot access any material, please contact the instructor.
References: Articles in Course Package

Evaluation System

Semester Requirements Number of Activities Level of Contribution
Attendance 14 % 15
Homework Assignments 4 % 20
Presentation 1 % 25
Final 1 % 40
Total % 100
PERCENTAGE OF SEMESTER WORK % 60
PERCENTAGE OF FINAL WORK % 40
Total % 100

ECTS / Workload Table

Activities Number of Activities Workload
Course Hours 14 42
Study Hours Out of Class 14 76
Presentations / Seminar 1 10
Homework Assignments 4 20
Final 1 2
Total Workload 150

Contribution of Learning Outcomes to Programme Outcomes

No Effect 1 Lowest 2 Low 3 Average 4 High 5 Highest
           
Program Outcomes Level of Contribution
1) To be able to examine, interpret data and assess ideas with the scientific methods in the area of EU studies.
2) To be able to inform authorities and institutions in the area of EU studies, to be able to transfer ideas and proposals supported by quantitative and qualitative data about the problems.
3) To be introduced to and to get involved in other disciplines that EU studies are strongly related with (political science, international relations, law, economics, sociology, etc.) and to be able to conduct multi-disciplinary research and analysis on European politics.
4) To be able to evaluate current news on European Union and Turkey-EU relations and identify, analyze current issues relating to the EU’s politics and policies.
5) To be able to use English in written and oral communication in general and in the field of EU studies in particular.
6) To have ethical, social and scientific values throughout the processes of collecting, interpreting, disseminating and implementing data related to EU studies.
7) To be able to assess the historical development, functioning of the institutions and decision-making system and common policies of the European Union throughout its economic and political integration in a supranational framework.
8) To be able to evaluate the current legal, financial and institutional changes that the EU is going through.
9) To explain the dynamics of enlargement processes of the EU by identifying the main actors and institutions involved and compare previous enlargement processes and accession process of Turkey.
10) To be able to analyze the influence of the EU on political, social and economic system of Turkey.
11) To acquire insight in EU project culture and to build up project preparation skills in line with EU format and develop the ability to work in groups and cooperate with peers.
12) To be able to recognize theories and concepts used by the discipline of international relations and relate them to the historical development of the EU as a unique post-War political project.