European Identity in Times of Crises

0520666 - ÚSP 2020 RIV PL eng J - Journal Article
Šejvl, Michal
European Identity in Times of Crises.
Studia Europejskie – Studies in European Affairs. Roč. 21, č. 1 (2019), s. 13-26. ISSN 1428-149X
Institutional support: RVO:68378122
Keywords : European Identity * European Union Crisis * Migrations * Brexit * Eurozone
OECD category: Law
Method of publishing: Limited access
http://cejsh.icm.edu.pl/cejsh/element/bwmeta1.element.desklight-9cf0453b-9d2f-465c-beb7-e0b5a4aed158

This essay tries to discuss three possible models of common European identity based on shared political values, shared economic interests and shared cultural heritage in our actual situation when Europe is suffering from many crises or their aftermaths (Eurozone crisis, migration crisis or Brexit crisis). The fi rst non-exclusive “thin” identity model is based on many essentially contested concepts (in the essay demonstrated on the concept of human dignity) and its major weakness lies in the fact that many of these values are eroding in our practices, not only in the “new” EU member states. The approach based on shared pragmatic interests does not produce strong moral commitments, but the real problem of this model is that since the beginning of 1970s one of the truly European “innovations” – its post-war model of welfare state – is put into question (The essay tries to demonstrate it using the theory of Wolfgang Streeck). The common cultural heritage model that can produce “thick” identity is on the fi rst sight the most diffi cult to build because of the almost insurmountable plurality between European cultures. However, the shared culture can produce cosmopolitan “identity in diversity”, but only if material conditions for the creation of this “fragile” or “delicate” identity model are created in some form of reinvented welfare state that could liberate us from many fears we have.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0305304