‘WHO WANTS TO BE A EUROPEAN?’ COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
‘WHO WANTS TO BE A EUROPEAN?’ COMMUNITY AND IDENTITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION

Summary/Abstract: Since the project of European economic and political integration began there has been an ongoing debate about what type of community is emerging and whether it will lead to the development of a pan-European identity. In this article the prospects for the formation of such an identity will be examined. This will include assessing the views of writers for whom the development of a collective European identity faces insurmountable obstacles, most notably the enduring strength of existing national identities. In this regard, Michael Billig (1995) believes the new experiment that is taking place within Europe will still be carried out in the existing language and concepts of nationalism and national identity. However, it is argued here that if a pan-European identity or sense of ‘Europeanness’ is to emerge it must be a post-national enterprise founded upon the political principles of universal citizenship, democracy and constitutionalism commonly associated with the project of modernity. But if this approach is to be implemented the EU’s ‘democratic deficit’ will have to be addressed.

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