European Cultural Identity In The Process Of European Integration

At present, looking from the world, European Union is the regional community whose the integrated degree is the highest up to now, and which is the organic combination of cooperation of the governments and super-nations. The process of European integration is in front of all the regional integrations in some depth and extent never in the past. But with the further deepen of European integration and the end of the Cold War, the necessity and legitimacy of the integration are questioned. Because integration is the course which constructs collective identity in itself and the cultural identity is the steadiest among them. So, strengthening the common European idea, European value and forming real European cultural identity is an important goal of further integration in Europe. European cultural identity not only establishes the foundations of psychology and science of culture for European citizen accepting the European reality of the political and economic unification, but also restricts the future progress of European integration. European Union is only based on the cultural identity, just having lasting vitality. The forming of European cultural identity is not plain sailing, it needs the Europeans to create with intelligence, and European Union is carrying on the construction of cultural identity in the internal and external form.This text divides five parts to describe. The first part, meaning of the identity and definition of "Europe". Identity which can be summarized as: in certain circumstance, the comparison of the behavior body and others comes into being a kind of self-cognition and self-definition. Identity has individual and collective meaning, and forms a kind of sense of belonging and behavioral sense in the social psychological aspect. Individual identity answers "who am I?" and collective identity answers "who are we?". The definition of Europe goes with the forming and development of Europe. In ancient time, "Europe" refers to the place that "Europa" inhabited; "Europe" of Middle Ages generally refers to some areas in western Europe and eastern Europe; In Cold War period, the definition of Europe is influenced by political ideology and political economic system; After the Cold War, the social and political ideology which influenced the definition of Europe isreplaced by European cultural identity.The second part, production, development and function of European cultural identity. European cultural identity regards European culture as the basic point. Although European culture is made up of different national cultures, they are common cultural and historical tradition, namely ancient Greek and Roman civilization, Christianity civilization, Renaissance, Didacticism, the Reformation, Britain industrial revolution and the French Revolution, etc. These common cultural value and religious moral concept have surmounted the separating of the political entity, and have reflected the unity of European cultural continuity. They have established the historic and cultural foundation for the forming of the modern "European idea", and have created conditions that for the appearance of modern European cultural identity and European's consciousness. The function of European cultural identity includes: First of all, it helps to remedy the deficiency of the functionalism road to the European integration, and makes European Union members strengthen cooperation; Secondly, it helps to cultivate people the sense of belonging to European Union, and lighten the legitimacy deficit of European Union; Finally, it helps European Union to appear as an independent role on the international arena, and improve the position and influence of European Union in international affairs.The third part, the relation of European cultural identity and national cultural identity. In the European long history course which various nationalities and national country form, cultural identity has already the deep national brand. At present, national cultural identity is stronger than European cultural identity in developed degree and potential energy. National cultural identity is the base of European cultural identity. The construction of European cultural identity does not mean repelling or denying national cultural identity, or the forfeiture of the national cultural characteristic. European cultural identity is the sublimation of national cultural identity, and national cultural identity is the base of European cultural identity. They include each other, and are indivisible. Should strengthen cultural consistency constantly in the process of European integration, and put emphasis on keeping cultural variety repeatedly at the same time.