The Historical Principles of European Identity

Abstract

The trend towards integration in Europe over the past few decades has raised the question of whether this process can continue. Will the political and economic integration at some point call for the creation of some joint European identity? And if it does, what will be the nature of that identity, and how will it stand in relation to the existing national identities? Before taking a closer look at the identity debate stimulated by integration, it may be a good idea to pinpoint the factors with which the common European identity has tended to be associated.