Transformations of National Identity in Europe

Abstract

National identities are social constructs that position a group of nationals in relation to ‘others’. When exposed to the effects of globalization, when new people enter the national community, when countries are struck by severe crises and when the status of borders between countries changes, national identities are pushed to be redefined or reaffirmed. Changes in the beliefs of which values, norms and interests are shared by a national group in turn have consequences for what is perceived as democratically legitimate governance of the national group in question. This panel gathers papers that study these dynamics in a variety of European contexts.