Formation/Cours

The central objective is to introduce students to an understudied dimension of European integration – the construction of a European imagined community – and 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