British Discourses on Europe: Sovereignty of Parliament, Instrumentality and the Non-Mythical Europe

Abstract

A general problem in foreign policy analysis is how to deal theoretically with collective beliefs to which socio-political actors adhere. The aim of this chapter is to show that a linguistic approach, more specifically discourse analysis, can fruitfully be used to describe such beliefs.² It suggests a framework which presents beliefs as social, meaningful and embedded in language. Discourses which cut across political groupings, and, in a broader sense, constitute a common ground for the political debate in society can be identified and explored. This approach stresses the fact that different views on a specific policy issue may well draw on the same discourse, that is, the same framework of meaning.

Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The author alone is responsible for the views expressed in this article.