Split Identities

What does it mean to be European? This question has been frequently discussed in the last few years, academically as well as polemically. There is no doubt that the question is becoming all the more important after the enlargement of the European Union. Every new membership heightens the importance of the question: “What is it that binds us together?”. Despite the ongoing discussion, no one has been able to come up with a valid definition of what it means to be European as of yet – it seems to be a Herculean task to come up with one identity that can satisfy over 500 million citizens from 27 different countries.There is one aspect to this debate however that has been frequently omitted: Is it really necessary to have a clearly defined European identity? To make the matter less confusing, it might be helpful to look at the perceived antagonist, or some would say obstacle, of the emergence of a common identity – the national identity every citizen of the European Union holds.

Most people still feel largely attached to the country in which they were born. They define themselves through their affiliation to the national community, especially when encountering people from other countries, when national identity is used to draw a distinction between “me” and “them”. Hearing a German introducing himself as “European” to a Frenchman would surely rise a few eyebrows. Important as it might be, is this national identity rigidly defined? Is it really completely clear to everyone what it means to be “German”, “British”, “Czech” or “Greek”? In my opinion, it is not. National identities are often only used when a separation and distinction are needed – football matches being only one very simple example. Surely people who are brought up in one country will share a number of common, basic identity traits - like language, food and certain cultural customs. Nevertheless, being German might mean something entirely different to me than to somebody whom that could be politely called a “nationalist”. Furthermore, any given identity, whether national or European, will always only be a part of a bundle of identities.

Modern theories about human identity suggest that every human being can hold, and in fact always holds several layers of identity, starting at a communal and sub-national level and – possibly – ending with a feeling of identification with the European community. The hierarchy of these layers logically depends on several external factors like the social circumstances and the upbringing. A person brought up in a very traditional Catalan family might first of all feel Catalan, then Spanish, as opposed to somebody who has been brought up in Madrid, where the national, Spanish identity easily subsumes his or her regional identity. This already complex structure can be further divided if somebody living in the Community holds an additional non-European identity in culture or religion. The interplay of these different strata will shape each and every one them in a certain way, making an absolute definition of “Spanish” utterly impossible. Is this structure an obstacle to the formation of a common European identity embracing all people in Europe?

By no means. Humans have always held more than one identity - even long before the nation state emerged. They were members of a family, of a tribe and maybe of a larger community without having to sacrifice any of these identities. It is obvious that a shared common identity in Europe must and cannot be a massive, monolithic structure that simple superimposes itself over all the other levels of identity. Adopting a European identity does not mean sacrificing the national or regional layer. It merely means re-evaluating one's awareness of the its importance, giving it a higher position in one's internal hierarchy, making it more present and visible. Therefore, it is not a problem if the common identity remains somewhat diffused or undefined - allowing it to flow around and between all the other layers of identity. A certain permeability is not only desirable, but a necessary precondition for a European identity to function. The feeling of “being European” is influenced by the adherence to certain values and a common heritage that is not clearly definable with regard to territory and, to some extent, culture and religion. Surely, Christianity, the Enlightenment and other “classic” European developments are a major influence on that identity. Nevertheless, Europe has never been a secluded entity, especially with respect to its Eastern neighbours. It is important to keep that in mind, even if it makes a clear definition of the “end of Europe” even more difficult.

Therefore, European identity cannot work like a national identity, being a tool of narrow exclusion and tight boundary-drawing. On the contrary, a European identity needs to be flexible and embracing in order to embark all the different, valuable sub-identities that currently exist on EU-territory. It is indisputable that the definition of a “European identity” would mean a certain measure of exclusion yet again, that is against all the other cultures that are defined as non-European. The major difference and innovation would be the fact that it would transcend the barriers for example language, ethnicity and territory, at least within the borders of the Community. This will be one of the major tasks of European politics in the new decade: to find and stress the common values and to enhance cross-border solidarity and the feeling of being a member of the European community in every individual without suppressing other identities. Furthermore, the development of this shared framework will need to take into account the mistakes its predecessors, the national identities made. The clash of national identities has been a contributing factor to the great catastrophes of the last century, namely the First and the Second World War. Therefore, a common identity should ideally be exclusive without being aggressive towards differing value systems. It might seem like an impossible task, but it is of crucial importance for the future development of a functioning European Union.