European Identity and its potential and power have become extremely relevant for the contemporary issues facing the modern world. As the international community is becoming increasingly connected, is a realistic European identity prevalent if present at all in Europe? This essay looks to examine the formation and affect of a supranational identity by exploring the cultural identities of the European local sphere.
Individual European identities have been the strongest form of culture for the continent. Each level of local, regional, and national culture has a diverse and historical narrative that has shaped the nation into the entities we know today. These histories of nations have dominated historiography for the last century, as the nation-state became the center of European politics, culture and history. Europe as a whole is an impressive force, rich with a vibrant cultural past that is shared beyond these national boundaries. This commonality prompted the creation of the European Union, which has sought to strengthen its members’ efforts and abilities under a multinational banner. As the continent has become more connected in the political sphere, has its transnational connections similarly caused a larger shared cultural identity to emerge as well?
To determine this, I would like to look at the EU’s program, European Capitals of Culture. The program was initiated in 1985 and each year since a European city has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture. During a city’s celebrated year, it hosts various events emphasizing how their unique identity is a part of a larger European culture. As more than 60 cities have been involved over the past 30 years, I would like to explore how this program has encouraged and provided an environment for a European identity to form and compliment the resilient local, regional and national identities tied to these cites. I would like to narrow my analysis by taking a comparative approach. My project will focus on three cities, each belonging to a phase of the program; 1985-1995, 1995-2005, and 2005-2015. I hope to explore the shift between phases and determine whether a European identity has become increasingly present and improved through the studies of these individual cities. Thomas Risse believes the EU’s slogan of ‘Unity in Diversity’ shows that modern Europe is made of its individual narratives.[1] While the unique cultures of these cities are distinctive to them, it is possible their presence in the European sphere as capitals of European culture has contributed to a shared sense of identity that transcends national borders.
Fortunately, because this project deals with public initiatives on local and supranational levels, there are various primary sources available. While the extent of local documentation will affect the cities I chose to focus on, the EU has a large online database to provide me with my initial research. As I begin to map the different points of European cultural hubs, I would also like to utilize the GIS technology. The visual spread and connection of these culture capitals across Europe is crucial to demonstrating the findings of project.
This study seeks to go beyond the political identity the European Union has created. While European cities have strong multi-layered identities, a new identity has emerged and is connecting them transnationally. As Europe has historically been a continent with a shared past and varied commonalities, its people and future are intrinsically connected under a shared supranational European identity.
[1] Risse, Thomas, A Community of Europeans? Transnational Identities and Public Spheres (New York, 2010), pg. 7.