The Challenges Involved in Teaching About the Rule of Law as a Fundamental Value of the EU System

Abstract

As the state of the rule of law continues to deteriorate in certain EU Member States, the EU is being presented with a unique challenge—that of protecting the value of the rule of law against internal systematic violations thereof. In the face of these ongoing developments, it has equally become a challenge for instructors at EU and non-EU universities who teach about the rule of law as an EU value to fully deliver the rule of law ‘message’ to their students. This chapter will firstly elaborate on the importance of the rule of law as a baseline principle of the EU framework, providing insight into the current state of play regarding the EU’s rule of law issues. Secondly, the analysis will weigh in on the most appropriate methodological approaches to be employed in the university-level instruction covering the fields of EU Law and EU studies more broadly. Thirdly, the chapter will specifically look into the most suitable and most effective methodological tools for teaching the rule of law as an area of study. Lastly, conclusions will be drawn about the ways in which instructors can improve the methodological toolkit they utilize when teaching about the rule of law as an EU value as well as a general concept, such that would allow students to internalize their knowledge of the different components of the rule of law and, as a result, be prepared to successfully apply this knowledge to practical, real-world situations.