A Multi‐Level Approach to European Identity: Does Integration Foster Identity?

Abstract

Many integration theories predict that heightened integration in Europe will give rise to a European identity. As integration advances, so does the scholarly debate on identity. This article endeavours to contribute to the debate by investigating the relationship between European integration and European identity longitudinally in 14 countries over 21 years from 1992 to 2012. Using Eurobarometer and EU Index data, this relationship is found to be exponential with current integration levels predicting the imminent emergence of a European identity. In order to better understand whose identities are impacted or formed most by integration, the paper then turns to three intervening concepts: (1) cognitive mobilization, (2) optimism, and (3) support of the EU. All of these amplify the effect of integration on identity with the noteworthy exception of optimism. Finally, the article evaluates the implications of these findings for neofunctionalism and the literature on European identity more broadly.

Fostering European Identity

“…The study finds that extraversion increases European identity, while agreeableness (in the sense of being gentle and polite) decreases it. Luhmann (2017) finds that pessimists are a lot less likely to feel European.…”

European Outliers? Rethinking Europeanisation and Euroscepticism in Britain and Denmark

“…The most used of these is the notorious 'Moreno question', which contrasts and orders identification with Europe versus national identification (Mitchell, 2015). The thinness of these measures has not deterred several generations of social scientists from repeatedly using them and other similar indicators as a meaningful dependent variable, reducing the positioning of European nationalities to the dimension of overt identification or not with the EU (Citrin and Sides 2004;Fligstein, 2008;Hooghe and Marks, 2008;Kuhn, 2015;Luhmann, 2017;de Vries, 2018). Most of this work has been dedicated to diagnosing the growing crisis of the EU seen in the growing Euroscepticism of some counties, and lamenting the 'democratic deficit' it implies.…”

Andalusian university students’ perception of their European identity: international orientation and experiences

“…As such, European identity is a difficult construct to gauge, and traditional measures to do so have failed to grasp subjective nuances or the intensity of identification (Kaina 2013;Luhmann 2017aLuhmann , 2017b and to isolate the personal traits and contextual characteristics which predispose individuals to identify themselves with certain supranational entities. To remedy this, Strohmeier et al (2017) argue that young people's identification with the European Union is measurable through its potential to trigger civic and political action, ranging from conventional (intended participation in future EU elections) and nonconventional political engagement (supporting petitions about EU-related issues, partaking in demonstrations and marches, holding sit-ins or symbolic occupations) to psychological engagement (debating EU-related topics in social settings, circulating or commenting on content about EU affairs on social media).…”