Research Design and Methodology

Abstract

Coming to terms with diversity is both a key characteristic of and a fundamental challenge to European integration. This presupposes, inter alia, a communicative space in which Europeans can exchange and negotiate their perspectives on the future shape of the EU. Since the latter is based on information and opinion, some sort of cultural and political ‘literacy’ is needed. In Risse’s words, people need to be able ‘to communicate across borders irrespective of language and in the absence of European-wide media’ (Risse 2003: 35).

Europe has different meanings for different people in different contexts. Europeanism is not a fixed set of ideals [...] It is a strategy of discourse.

(Delanty 1995: 143)