Subjects for Master Thesis

Presented below are several different subjects for writing a EU-related Master. To create an easier overview the ideas are divided into broader categories. The researchers at CEP are not connected to specific the specific subjects.

Denmark as a Starting Point
  • Danish Security Policy in the light of the Danish Defence Opt-Out
  • Consequences of the Lisbon Treaty on Denmark
  • Consequences of the Financial Crisis for the EU in general and how these influence Denmark in particular (Is the increasing integration compatible with Denmark's EU policy and where does that leave Denmark?)
  • The EU and its influence over Denmark's arctic strategy/policy
  • An analysis of the debate in Danish and International media on the occasion of the Commissions midterm review, 2012
The EU presidency
  • The consequences of the Danish presidency over the Council
  • An analysis on the Danish use of small-state-strategy during the Danish EU presidency, 2012
Comparative Analysis
  • Small-state-strategy in EU: a comparison between Denmark and e.g. Finland
  • A comparison between the implementation of a certain EU directive in Denmark and another member state
  • A comparison between Denmark's and Norway's EU policies (pluses and minuses, conclusions on the overall effect of the EU on small Scandinavian systems)
External Focus
  • EU in the transatlantic relationship: soft power-balance and/or continuously partnership?
  • How does global politics play into European and national politics?
  • The ways in which EU promotes certain ideas, norms, institutions and/or policies in and beyond its borders 
Europeanization
  • Extent of Europeanization in EU's candidate states in one or several issue areas
  • In what ways is Europeanization in the Western Balkans different/similar than in Turkey?
  • The difference and similarities between Europeanization in old and new member states
  • Relationship between accession conditionality and adapting to EU norms and/or regulations (relevant for new member states and candidates)
Implementation
  • Similarities and differences in compliance records of new members or candidate countries (compared to each other, or compared to old member states)
  • Why do candidate countries adopt the EU acquis communautaire? Due to conditionality pressures, domestic pressures or normative factors such as norm diffusion and socialization?
  • How do pressures emanating from the EU interact with domestic factors to give way to a certain policy change?
Democratic Deficit
  • How democratic legitimacy is considered in comparison to economic stability and growth
  • Has the democratic deficit moved to the member states?
  • The citizen's trust in the EU institutions has decreased. Which consequences will it bring?
  • What political role does nationalism play in the policymaking of the nation states?
  • What new lines of conflict will play a part in the EU in 20 years?
EU's institutions
  • An analysis of the historical development in the relationship between the European Parliament and the Commission
  • An analysis of the European Parliament's performance on new areas of responsibility after Lisbon, e.g. agricultural policy
  • An analysis of the Commission's annual declaration of assurance. What is it in their administration that the Commission must take precaution on?
  • An analysis of the organization culture in EEAS