ITALIAN VERSION
On 24 February, the European University Institute started a new on-line seminar on Cultures and Identities in Europe with the contribution of: Anna Triandafyllidou (Full Professor at EUI), Sabrina Marchetti (Associate Professor at the University of Venice) and Jeremie Molho (Research Associate at EUI). The course is divided into 3 weeks, this short report summarizes the first one.
The first part is Professor Triandafyllidou’s contribution about European identity. What is European identity? The concept of identity, in general, is about similarity among each others but it is also about how we are different from other people. Since we are talking about European identity, we are exploring a collective concept of it. People are generally more interested in their national identity, because it defines their rights and their duties in relation to a national State. We might define European identity in a political way, thanks to European citizenship. However, the way we define European identity is more social and cultural. European identity, in the cultural sense, is based on a set of values, a set of shared memories that bring the European peoples together. For some people, European culture can have a unitary meaning, and it can bring us all together. For other people, it is actually a source of division among Europeans.
At this point the question is what European culture means. Is there one or many European cultures? A complex definition of “culture” involves not only products of art and industries, but also values and ideas. There are four dimensions of culture: identity, economy, institutional dimension and power. The definition of European culture is connected to the freedom of thought and freedom of expression, progress, democracy and human rights. But the most distinctive feature of European culture is its internal diversity, and particularly the acknowledgement of this diversity. European cultural narratives bring together different national and religious heritages.
Europe understands itself as a power of the good that promotes positive values and collective norms, ideals of democracy, tolerance, and human rights. But do the others perceive Europe this way? How does the world see Europe and the European Union?
The images most frequently associated with the EU are those of an economic giant, but still not a world power. European internal affairs are seen as very complicated and bureaucratic. Regarding EU external affairs, European Union is considered less aggressive than the USA when intervening in other countries’ politics.
Many people tend to think of a European identity as some type of wider national identity with cultural and civic elements similar to those of a nation, such as one territory, a common history, shared values and traditions, a shared cultural heritage. Some argue that it is like an umbrella, a supranational identity that brings together the European nations. Others argue that European and national identities are nested. They are like Russian dolls. Others suggest that we should see European and national identities like the ingredients of a marble cake. They are mixed with one another but still stay distinct, like the vanilla and the chocolate.
According to Professor Triandafyllidou, European and national identities are intertwined. There is something European to each national identity in Europe. And there are different national narratives or understandings of Europe. Not only is European identity compatible with national identities, but sometimes it also becomes a vehicle for them. This is specifically the case of regional nationalisms. Scotland and Catalonia, for instance, have advocated both their will for independence and their desire to be one of the nations of Europe.
Last but not least, we may also speak of European nationalism. European nationalism can be defined as the sum of nationalisms of different European countries. But I can also be understood as European cosmopolitan identity which brings unity in the continent.
The next issue discussed is the European Unity and its motto. The idea of European identity was launched in the Copenhagen Summit in 1973, however it was only 25 years later that the slogan “Unity in diversity” appeared. It was adopted as the EU motto in 2000.
There are a few problematic points with this slogan. First of all, there is a danger of objectifying the national or subnational identities that constitute the shared European identity. Second, there is a danger that "Unity in Diversity" becomes too shallow, an empty shell. It transforms into a shared set of minimal civic values and procedural rules about living together, and thus loses its emotional dimension. The third and most important question is about how much diversity can be included in this unity.
The last contribution is given by Irena Guidikova, representing the Council of Europe, who explains how does it deal with cultural diversity. The Council of Europe is an intergovernmental organization of 47 countries, so diversity is one of its main features. In terms of legal instruments and policies, the Council of Europe has focused on diversity in two main ways. One is emulating discrimination on diversity grounds, and through the European Convention on Human Rights. One is creating specific policy framework called intercultural integration which helps cities, local authorities, to manage diversity as a resource.
The Council of Europe is encouraging cities and countries to manage diversity as a resource and not as a problem. In fact, it has been proven by research, by sociology, economy, social psychology, that diverse groups, companies and cities are more productive and creative. Interculturalism tries to balance between the culture of the receiving country and the cultures of newcomers. In this context, public policies need to ensure equality and reciprocity between cultures in order for them to become a resource for the city. Today, more than 90 cities around Europe are applying this intercultural integration policy paradigm in order to build trust between citizens of different cultural backgrounds and open opportunities for all of them.
This is the end of the first week of course, the second one will be about European heritage.
Europe Direct Emilia Romagna Trainee
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