Culture and identitiy in the EU M1

Etablissement : ESPOL European School of Political and Social Sciences

Langue : Anglais

Période : S2

Basic knowledge of EU institutions and policy-making.

The course explores an understudied dimension of European integration: the representation and communication of cultures and identities in EU policies, which are essential to establish a connection between the citizens and the institutions and to legitimize the European polity. The course invites the students to reflect on categories too often used uncritically such as ‘Europe’, ‘European identity’, or ‘European culture’. This reflection shall provide them with useful theoretical and empirical tools to assess critically past and current representations of Europe as well as a whole range of EU policies.

Here are the different aspects and policy areas covered by the course :



  • Theoretical background: identity theories, construction of communities, culture & political legitimacy;

  • Cultural policy: actions for heritage, the European Capitals of Culture;

  • History and memory: action in the field of historiography, official remembrance;

  • Academia: EU action in the academic field, Erasmus programme;

  • Symbols and iconography: European flag, the euro and other symbols;

  • Communication: contact with civil society, communication campaigns and strategies.

  • Citizens identification with Europe, citizenship, migration