European Identity

Abstract

Since the early 1990s, European Identity has come to the center of scholarly attention. The lack of public support for European integration, the failed referenda in France, the Netherlands and Ireland and the more recent increase of Euroscepticism all over Europe during the economic crisis have shown that the EU can no longer rely on the “permissive consensus” in order to secure its legitimacy. Moreover, the discussions about future enlargement of the EU and its growing role in international politics have triggered questions about the core values and principles of the EU and its politics. Within the section “EU Politics” at the ECPR Graduate Conference 2014 the panel “European Identity” will focus on the determinants and consequences as well as the nature and origins of European identity. Starting with the assumption that identities can be constructed and are subject to change, the issue of European identity can be approached from at least two different angles. From a “top-down” perspective identities are analyzed on an aggregate level which raises questions about the objective meaning and the nature of European identity. Also the roles of elites and political actors in the process of identity-formation can be scrutinized. On the other hand, from a “bottom-up” perspective, European identity is analyzed on an individual level and is treated as an individual characteristic which people have or do not have. This raises question about the intensity of European identity or who sees themselves as European and why? The aim of this panel is to provide valuable insight into the different perspectives on the study of European identity and address the question with arise when approaching European identity from different angles. Therefore, quantitative and qualitative as well as direct and indirect approaches are welcome.

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