"The Devil is in the Demos: The Identification of European Citizens with Europe"

Twist, Kimberly (2006) "The Devil is in the Demos: The Identification of European Citizens with Europe" . In University of Pittsburgh, European Union Center of Excellence > 2006 (1st) Graduate Student Conference on the European Union, pages 38, Pittsburgh, PA.

Abstract

The European public’s identification with Europe, or more specifically, the European Union, is necessary for furthering both legitimacy of EU institutions and integration of the political and social sectors. Their support for and perceived benefits from the EU do strongly correlate with their identification, but this fails to answer the larger question of why. Any European identity requires mass support, which can be fostered with by the EU with the help of the member states. While initiatives like the single currency and SOCRATES are indeed useful, they will be negated if national identification-inducing factors are stronger. It is possible, and even desirable, for the two levels to work together to enhance this European identification, through avenues like the creation of trans-European political parties and mass media. However, the likelihood that a widespread European identity will form is small, because of the vastly diverse histories and structures of the member states and the identities of their citizens.