Europe and the identity challenge: who are “we”?

Abstract

The revival of populism and extremism is a strong symptom of the identity crisis that is affecting many of the European Union’s Member States. From Denmark to Italy, Austria, France and the Netherlands, various national elections are confirming the strength of populism and the parties on the far right who are imposing their discourse in public debate, the heart of which comprises economic and cultural protectionism, as well as that of identity. The question of identity seems to be a point shared by many populist and far right parties in Europe. All set the following question: what links societies that are challenged by the crisis and the process of globalisation? And although the European Union is not necessarily a condition for the existence of the different types of populism in Europe, it is however exacerbating the themes that they foster and is notably amplifying anxiety about identity as well as the tension between an “open society” and one that is “closed”, both of which are easily perceivable in many countries. Moreover the European Union remains silent about the issue of identity, and since like nature, politics hates a vacuum, populism and extremism are occupying this discursive space that has been left vacant. As part of European integration the Member States carry with them specific cultural and historic national identities. At the same time a Union of States like the EU implies a minimal degree of coherence and common identity. From this standpoint who are the Europeans and what are the foundations of this European identity?