Essay from the year 2003 in the subject Cultural Studies - European Studies, grade: 2,0 (B), University of Bath (European Studies and Modern Languages), language: English, abstract: Italians only eat pasta; all Swedish girls look gorgeous and the Germans only listen to folkmusic. These stereotypes do not specify whole nations but still paint pictures people canidentify with. “The European” picture does not exist yet – neither on a culinary, nor on anaesthetic or musical basis. To get on with the European idea, a European Identity is inevitable.Without it, integration will never work to a satisfying extent and Europe cannot become themuch-quoted “ever closer Union”. Only with a common identity will people be willing tostand up for each other and only with such an identity will the European Parliament and theCommission be fully legitimised. The first step into that direction is the creation of aEuropean Consciousness, the idea to make people think of Europe as much as they think oftheir respective nationality. This essay will therefore analyse the concept of a EuropeanIdentity and then break it down to the first steps to be taken – the idea of a EuropeanConsciousness.Chapter 2 will first define the term of identity and then sketch the specific problems that arisein Europe where so many different identities are already established. It then draws up theimage of a possible long-term identity for the citizens of the Union’s member states. Chapter3 examines the process of setting this identity up, taking a closer look at several differentagents that could help to speed up the process. Finally the conclusion summarizes the chancesfor a European Consciousness leading to a legitimising identity.
