2025 EU Policy Forum Educator Workshop | Europe and the EU: Alone in a Multipolar World?

This curriculum resource guide was created to supplement the University of Washington’s Jackson School for International Studies and the World Affairs Council’s Global Classroom,

2025 EU Policy Forum Educator Workshop | Europe and the EU: Alone in a Multipolar World?

The European Union (EU) is one of the world’s most ambitious political and economic projects, shaping global policy, trade, and diplomacy for over seven decades. This guide traces the EU’s origins, core values, and key milestones, highlighting how it balances unity and diversity among its member states while addressing challenges such as climate change, migration, economic inequality, technological change, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Through historical context, case studies, and comparative perspectives, students and educators will explore the EU’s governance, its influence in international affairs, and its role in advancing global priorities such as sustainability, security, and human rights.

These resources invite learners to consider:

• How has the EU’s history shaped its identity and priorities?

• In what ways does the EU influence—and respond to—global challenges?

• How can understanding the EU prepare students to navigate an interconnected world?