EUROPEAN CULTURAL IDENTITY

Abstract

Based on the analysis of contemporary social and political theory concerning European Union, it becomes obvious that the realization and legitimisation of the EU integration process requires identity politics and/or culture that would help in building a „European identity”. The development of specific cultural policy of the European institutions and the attempt to constitute a „European identity and culture”, considered one of the most important places for contemporary sociological analysis and critique.

One goal of this work is to show that the idea of a „European identity” is an amalgam of inconsistent ideas - by which he conceives as a supranational identity, based on „common European heritage” and the principles of universal human rights and the respect of (cultural) diversity . In this regard, one of the assumptions in this paper is that the problems that arise from the pursuit of constructing a „European identity”, primarily limited by the (inadequate) conceptions of „identity”, „culture”, „community” in the European institutions, policies and agendas. Many researchers believe that European integration is the successful development and implementation of the European project, one of the crucial factors just create a „European identity”.

One question that occupies pride of place in the political, legal and social theory at the turn of the millennium is: how to deal with a growing proliferation of cultural differences? EU officials have long trying to go in different ways persuade „its citizens” how nice and well-being „European” and, at the same time, how nice and good to be 'different'. „The author's intention in this study was that myself and other interested parties clarify what is the sociological perspective as suspect, problematic or even dangerous in identity EU policies.