Bio
Renaud Dehousse is Rector at SAIS Europe
Renaud Dehousse is the Inaugural Rector of SAIS Europe and Vice Dean of SAIS. He began his term at SAIS in January 2024, following the completion of his term as president of the European University Institute (EUI). Before becoming EUI president, Dehousse was a professor and holder of the Jean Monnet Chair of European Law and Policy Studies at Sciences Po Paris, where he founded and directed the Centre for European Studies. He chaired Sciences Po’s Board from 2013 to 2016. He also was a scientific advisor to the center for study and research founded by Jacques Delors, Notre Europe, and was a member of several working parties on the reform of European institutions established by the European institutions and national governments.
After studying law at the University of Liège (Belgium), Dehousse obtained a doctorate at the European University Institute. Before joining Sciences Po in 1999, he taught at the European University Institute, then at the University of Pisa. He was a visiting professor at the Universities of Florence (Cesare Alfieri), Cologne, Rome (LUISS), Lausanne, the College of Europe and at the University of Michigan Law School. His research covers multiple aspects of European law and politics.
Courses
- European Union Politics and Policy-Making in a Time of Crisis
Today’s European Union (EU) stands out as a unique actor in international affairs. It is active across a wide range of areas, from trade to climate change and defense, yet often seems to punch below its weight. Since the beginning of the 21st century, the EU has faced a series of significant challenges, including the financial crisis, the Euro crisis, a migration crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, the rise of populism, Russian aggression in Ukraine, and the revival of power politics.
Understanding the EU's responses to these challenges can be complex. Despite more than three-quarters of a century since its inception, European integration remains a somewhat obscure process. This difficulty partly arises from the fact that the EU is unlike any other organization. While it is more developed than traditional international organizations and has gained influence in areas traditionally reserved for states, it is not a state and may never become one. Some commentators argue that the old 'Monnet method'—named after one of its chief architects—should be revisited or entirely overhauled, but no clear alternative has emerged.
This course aims to equip students with the tools to understand how the EU operates, what it does, and the structural elements that impact its performance across various areas. We will critically analyze key academic debates on European integration and discuss their relevance to contemporary issues. This analysis will foster a broader discussion about the nature of EU governance: is the EU truly an organization "unlike any other," as some claim, or can it be compared to other forms of government?
The course is designed to be accessible to all students, regardless of their prior knowledge of the EU's functioning. However, complete beginners are strongly encouraged to attend the short series of introductory lectures that will be offered at the beginning of the semester.
