European Identity Construction: Ideals Lead People

Every age has its own identity. Identity of a certain age is the invention and reinvention of the previous ones. European Union (EU), the newly sprang political entity since 1950s is now in the crucial time of constructing its identity for at least two reasons. The relation between European identity and European integration is like the relation between national identities and nation-states since the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. It is of great importance to the development and destination of the European Union. On the other hand, based on the Us and Others dichotomy, it is usually assumed that since the end of the cold war, European Union has lost its 'Others' in constructing the needed identity. Without common enemies, how can the EU define itself besides economic co-operations? How far can the EU go if it relies only on the economies? The author of this thesis would try to prove that the key decisive factors in European identity construction lie mainly in the long existed European ideals, European ethos, and also social wills of the European people after discussions on features of European identity, constituted parts of European identity and the existing models of European identity construction. How to win hearts and minds of the people and lead them walk toward the ideals is one of the most important problems the EU should solve to construct its identity and push forward its integration. The thesis is divided into four chapters besides an introduction and a conclusion. In the introduction, idea of Europe will be briefly explained, current situation of the EU and its identity will be introduced, and then the purpose of this thesis will be stated out.Chapter one discusses primarily on the necessity of European identity construction. By probing into natures and goals of the EU, a conclusion could be drawn that the EU is still a quasi-federal polity of Europe and many nation states. In the foreseeable future, the EU has little possibility to develop into a European nation while nation states have little possibility to withdraw from the community and return back previous separated state. New models and new attempts should be adopted and made to build Europe. The economic EU should translate into a cultural EU. An ever closer Union, a people's Europe and an imagined Europe all demand a close European identity.Chapter two mainly concerns the feasibility of European identity construction. By exploring features of identity, it could be found out that identity is an on-going process which has not only the feature of multiplicity but of being plastic and constructive. It is in the essence a kind of artificial and cultural construction. By tracing past construction and development of European identity, it could be assumed that European identity, which is now mainly constituted by European cultural identity and European civic identity, is always in process together with the development of the EU.Chapter three explores opportunities European Union has in the construction of its identity. Construction models of European identity are explored first. Various emphases are put on in various construction models. European identity construction has experienced a process of transferring from closeness to openness, and from the elites to the masses. This provides both practical experiences and theoretical backbones to further identity construction. Tracing of the fifty-year-development of European integration shows that European ethos like liberty, democracy and rule by law is deeply implanted and widely incarnated in the process of European integration. Although the historically lasted political ideal of a united Europe has not been realized together with the economic integration process, the cherished ideal has not disappeared in the history of Europe. Instead, it is paid more and more attention to with the end of the Cold War and the returning of the central and eastern countries. The political ideal which sometimes unites and sometimes separates with national interests, and the deeply implanted European ethos would remain to enlighten the way of European integration. Investigations in public opinions prove that social wills of the people can affect the process of European integration in a large degree. Whether the Union can win hearts and minds of its people determines in a large extent both identity formation and orientation of the European construction. European civic identity construction has achieved some progress after years of effort. More and more European citizens identify their European identity in addition to their national identity. Opportunities and the key of European identity construction lie primarily on the combination of European ideals, European ethos and the already achieved and still on-developing civic identity of Europe.Chapter four deals chiefly with challenges in the construction process of European identity. By probing particularity of Europe, challenges at both national and European levels could be found out. Firstly, national interests and their required national identities while at one hand shed light on European integration and European identity construction, at the other hand constrain this process and form the largest challenge in European identity construction. At the European level, in the mean time, construction and development of both cultural identity and civic identity of Europe are in dilemma. Lacking of pre-European history and demanding of efficiency and democracy intensify and enforce the difficult situation of European identity construction.The conclusion part illustrates that neither of the past construction models can shoulder the responsibility of constructing the needed identity. The various models should be combined to let both culture and politics take role to stimulate each other. Specifically speaking, the EU should translate both European ideals and European people into the demanding European identity. In order to build up a close identity quickly and effectively, the EU should promote ideals while promote economies, and should unite men while unite states. Not only flexible and pragmatic styles the EU used to have but also visionary and innovative minds and efforts are thirstily demanded for the EU to unite men and win their hearts and minds.