The Question of Europe

In this small chapter, I intend to investigate perceptions of Europe as they are presented to the public. The question of Europe is typically framed within a discourse on identity. To evaluate the impact of Europe is to search for a European identity. This European identity discourse derives from the template of the nation state that acquires its legitimacy through references to language, culture, tradition and history. Nationalism is the first and the most powerful form of identity politics in Europe. Due to the growing role of European integration, the question of Europe is, however, also framed within a trans- or supranational discourse. Even if European identity was only formulated as a necessary component of European integration in the Copenhagen Declaration of December 1973, the idea of European commonality as the driver of the project can be found all the way back to first post-war discussions on a united Europe. Contrary to what more functionalist and institutionalist approaches are claiming, the history of European integration cannot be explained without pointing to the role of identity politics.