Between Nationalism and Europeanisation

Joining the EU has long been seen as a crucial tool for improving interstate relations, guaranteeing stable interethnic relations, and resolving antagonistic claims over identity, territory, and polity by peoples involved in the integration process. Along these lines, Nancheva’s book outlines how Bulgaria and Macedonia, the two countries on the Southeastern flank of the EU, have negotiated their contesting nationalist claims before the accession. Between Nationalism and Europeanisation paves the way for further studies of post-enlargement dynamics in interstate and interethnic relations across the external EU border that fortify the claims over national sovereignty as well as deeper European integration. -- Timofey Agarin, Queen’s University Belfast

Nevena Nancheva’s beautifully written yet accessible book skilfully analyses the discursive power of national identity in the political project of European integration in Bulgaria and Macedonia. By highlighting the ways in which specific discourses condition and constrain political positions and policy options in the two states, Nancheva’s insights make an important contribution to the literature on the discursive construction of national identity, the influence of identity discourses on domestic and inter-state politics and the influence of Europeanisation in two under-researched South-East European states. Richard Mole, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London -- Richard Mole, University College London

Nevena Nancheva is a postdoctoral researcher investigating the themes of European integration, nationalism, and inter-group conflict. She received her doctorate from the University of Westminster.