Europeanisation of the European Union’s Cultural, Political and Social Dimensions as a Tool for Strengthening European Identity
Europeanisation of the European Union’s Cultural, Political and Social Dimensions as a Tool for Strengthening European Identity

Summary/Abstract: Using the constructivist paradigm, in the article, the author diagnoses the potential of top-down, bottom-up, cross-loading and ad personam Europeanisation in strengthening the cultural, civic and functional dimensions of European identity. First, the trajectories of how national and European identity form are explained and compared, and the factors determining the development of three dimensions of European identity are examined. The study shows that if Europeanising processes are to be effective in strengthening European identity, they should be developed in a complementary way, in three areas: 1) European culture and education, 2) the pan-European political arena, and 3) reinforcement of the utilitarian legitimacy of the European integration project (e.g. the single market, the single currency, the Schengen Area, cohesion policy), with initiatives in the last area having the greatest potential to affect broad segments of European societies. This is related to the nature of European identity. In contrast to affective national identities, European identity is more cognitive, instrumental and functional, relying less on emotions and more on rational calculations and measurable benefits individuals experience through European integration. Positive effects in the utilitarian dimension of integration are felt not only by Europe’s elites but also by average citizens.

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