Values and the Challenging of Europe’s Identity

Abstract

Europe, in our days, has known a number of founding fathers, and not only on the level of economic policy. Behind the Centre Europeen de la Culture we find Denis de Rougemont; behind the College of Europe, Hendrik Brugmans. Jacques-René Rabier will enter history not only as ‘Mr Eurobarometer’ but as much more, for his interest in Europe has never been limited to the study of evolving opinions with regard to the ‘Europe-mindedness’ of Europeans. He has been deeply concerned with the fundamental cultural identity of Europe and the in-depth shifts in the collective conscience of its citizens. This was the major reason why, from the outset, he agreed to be one of the members of the small steering committee which, in 1978, launched the risky initiative of a major study on European Values and Value Systems known as the ‘European Value Systems Study Group’ (EVSSG).