1.9 Conclusion If we try to recapitulate what we have done in this unit two main areas need to be considered: is there likely to be a European identity in the near future? and how important are national sentiments going to be? While it could be said that by the end of the twentieth century the EU had become a reasonably integrated economic space politically, and especially at the cultural level, progress was limited. But even at the economic level, areas like labour mobility were still very low in the
1.8.1 What happens next? The next ten years are likely to be momentous for the history of Europe. However, in the same way that no social scientist was able to predict the collapse of the Soviet order, it is pointless to speculate on possible but improbable scenarios. At this point it is only possible to project toward the future on the basis of the existing parameters; the more accurate and detailed our knowledge of the present trends is, the more likely our forecasts are to have some success. Europe is at a c
1.7.1 European citizenship The EU is an economic, juridical and, to an extent, political reality. But is it a public space in the sense of an arena in which groups and individuals vigorously exchange symbolic messages of different types? It would appear as if, while the public of most EU countries are willing to accept ever closer economic union (including a common currency and even political convergence), when it comes to historical memories, social organisation and cultural ideas (including religion), they are mostly
1.6.2 Education Education is obviously one of the crucial dimensions in any attempt to develop a future European identity or at least more understanding and convergence among Europeans. If the school made the nation, it should also be a key factor in promoting Europeanness. Observers of the school scene in Europe acknowledge the existence of a growing sentiment of interest for European themes (institutions, politics, peoples, languages). Furthermore, the EU-based exchange programmes have recognised the impor
1.4.3 Summary The process toward European unification was initiated by top political elites in France, Italy, Germany and the Benelux countries after the Second World War. New collective actors are progressively being engaged in European affairs, among them the Labour movement, regional movements and new social movements such as the environmentalism of groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth. European elites, although engaged in a con
1.4.1 Historical background European unification was begun by the social democratic and Christian democratic leaders of the Western European states who had fought each other during the Second World War. The idea was to create a community of states that would guarantee peace and prosperity. The process turned out to be long and arduous, particularly after the federalist failures of the Congress of the Hague (1949) and the European Defence Community (1953). The main emphasis was on economic co-operation, and the project w
1.3.2 Summary The shifting character of European geographical boundaries is illustrated by Turkey and the other twelve countries from Central and Eastern Europe which are currently negotiating access to the EU. The boundaries of Europe change depending on whether Europe is defined in terms of institutional structures, historical geography or observed patterns of social, economic and political interaction. Ex 1.3.1 Europe and the EU Is there a Europe beyond the EU? This is a question that becomes more and more difficult to answer. It is quite common for example to hear of such or such a country wishing to ‘join Europe’, when what is meant is that they wish to apply to join the EU. The criteria for joining the EU were laid down in the summit of Copenhagen, 21 and 22 June 1993. Candidates must have reached an institutional stability that guarantees democracy, legality, human rights, and the respect and prote 1 1 Who are Europeans? When I went to Loughborough for the first time I was pleasantly surprised as a social scientist to see that the town was twinned with Épinal, the French town where the founder of modern sociology, Émile Durkheim, was born. In fact, as you enter any major English town you are likely to see sooner or later a plaque indicating that the town is twinned with another European town. But what is the meaning of this practice? After the Second World War, which pitched European state aga Introduction The problem of who, or what, are ‘Europeans’ is at the centre of many of the most acute political and social issues confronting contemporary Europe. Can a genuine European identity be constructed within Europe, and if so on what basis? This question is of even greater importance as the European Union expands and becomes ever more multicultural in character. This unit examines the ways in which European identities are – or are not – being forged across Europe. It assesses the var References "Disabled" by Wilfred Owen (poetry reading) Russia buries boat tragedy victims Underwater U.S. homeowners assess options: Stay or walk away Hundreds rescued from migrant boat Europe slams Ireland downgrade Circus magic transforms sand Wall St. hails Fed chief comments Mexico killings Mumbai awakes after attack
The pictures are recruitment posters from the First World War. "Daddy, what did you do in the Great War?" was a recruitment poster from 1915. Here's a link to the original: http://bit.ly/pj9pje
Wilfred Owen was particularly proud of this poem, he showed it to Robert Graves who encouraged him to publish.
He sat in a wheeled chair, waiting for dark,
And shivered in his ghastly suit of grey,
Legless, sewn short at the elbow. Through the park
Voices of boys rang saddening like a hymn,
Voices of
July 13 - Victims of a boat accident in Russia's Volga river are buried in Kazan. Simon Hanna reports.
July 13 - The White House says it's ramping up efforts to fix housing and with good reason— there are more American homeowners now under water on mortgages than at any time since the crisis began.
July 13 - Italian coastguard officials carry small children from a boat packed with migrants after the overcrowded vessel ran into trouble off the Italian island of Lampedusa. Nick Rowlands reports.
July 13 - The European Commission has called Moody's latest downgrade of Ireland's credit rating "incomprehensible" as fears also grow over the stability of Italy's economy. Andrew Potter reports.
July 13 - Artists from around the world compete in the 5th International Circus-themed Sand Sculpture Festival in Latvia. Kilmeny Duchardt reports.
July 13 - Summary of business headlines: Wall Street, Europe break three-day slump; U.S. Senators want News Corp probe; Greece debt downgraded further into junk bond status. Conway G. Gittens reports.
July 14 - Bloody crime spree leaves 38 people dead across Mexico in suspected drug violence. Marie-Claire Fennessy reports
July 14- Indian's financial capital, Mumabi wakes as investigations continue into the triple bomb blast which struck the city. (Rough cut)
