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Summary Studying Europe week 1-7
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Studying Europe, year 1 block 1 of ELC. Summary of readings, lectures and seminars. Taught in 2018.
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Week 1:Key assignment points:
The Economist:
Key notions:
More political
United in diversity is the motto of the EU
Unity/diversity
Community,
Mosaic, building bridges
-Satellite states and borderlands of Europe are keener to identify as Europeans
- Europe is a modern, growing entity.
Migrants deepening divisions.
- Europe is identified as the EU- European identity is elusive and confused.
- European identity developing through travel
-European shared history concerns the wish for peaceful co-existence so what is the future?
- what keeps us together after threat has been unified?
- reliance on Germany
- Unemployment in Eurozone – increased by 10% more since sep’ 2009
- Need to balance powers
- European identity arose from need to provide and protect, mutual need, sharing of
goods- coal and steel- common market.
European identity and culture from a non-European perspective- the economist
o Concept of uncertain future of Europe
▪ Challenges faced such as unemployment in the Eurozone and the
reliance on the power of Germany more than others. Imbalance of
powers
o EU arose from the mutual need to safeguard States and provide for them.
This need can be related to Sachsenmeier’s writing as he refers to the
16th/17th century perception of Europeans as an elite, with advancements
such as Europol and the European parliament and commission.
o The notion that the EU developed from the need to provide for states and the
perception of technologically advanced Europeans in 20th century China.
Rietbergen:
More historical
European identity is presented in history- museums are criticized for false representations of
European identity- identity comes through culture and developed through settlers and
shared linguistics.
- Discusses the evolution of European culture, as a result of economy need and the
need for integration.
- Talks about cultural similarities between Egyptians and Germans. Discusses the
overlaps along borders, shared identity features despite borders, shared linguistic
features.
- Region, behaviour patterns, manifestations of things that draw people together or set
them apart.
- Shared styles, European history.
What is culture and how is it distinguished? Through cultural norms, history of ideologies,
social framework, religion and patriarchy.
Modernity in Sachsenmeir
,European identity from a Chinese perspective
16/17th newness, civilization and technology European image dissemination in China-
untouched, upper class.
20th C- Europe viewed as a sleeping giant, threatening due to its technological
advancement. China is criticised for maintenance of oriental culture and lack of
‘revolutionary energy’- Chen and Shaonian Zhongguo
- European education, lifestyle, marriage habits and baby care praised.
After the 30th years war in Europe:
- Revolutionary energy turned in on itself and became national and class related
protest movements.
- Economic situation and unemployment led to class, religious fractions- social
Darwinism.
- A robbing of communal spirit.
- Standardisation.
Shaonian Zhongguo- China must be led slowly towards liberalism and individualism.
Liang Qichao concludes learning from European crisis. Oriental aspects such as scientism,
instrumental reason maintained in a slower method of modernisation.
How can it be useful to look at European identity and culture from a non-european
perspective?
- Liang Qichao provides the notion that the future of China, Asia and India can benefit
from observing European mistakes- states that the revolutionary energy caused
fractions amongst Europe.
- Technological advancement benefits Asia who can observe and learn- renewable
energy.
- Freedom travel is a huge European advancement in comparison to the rest of the
world.
In what ways is Europe defined in the essay? How do the definitions relate to Liang’s
definitions discussed by Sachsenmeier?
Key points assignment 1:
Europe is defined as:
• Growing
• Modern
• Uncertain future due to its role as a guardian and provider.
• Uncertain due to its mutual reliance, especially on Germany.
Liang defines Europe as:
• Technologically advanced
• Fractioned due to accelerated progression without maintenance of orientalism-
need for lingua franca.
• Fractioned due to standardisation.
, What makes us European- what to consider:
- Linguistics- language we speak- to what extent does it reflect our identity? Dialect-
geographical constraints or not, lingua franca
- Changing boundaries- they now reflect more political identity.
The construction of collective memory:
- Memory sites, objectification of memory- ritual enactment and European myths
- Social constructs and language – What we know about history is taught through
language and what we don’t know is lost (ancient literature)
o Urdu and Polish are the second most spoken languages in the UK, does that
make them European?
Constructivism
Language, historiography, institutions, scientific knowledge are the workings of negotiations
and determine history.
Cultural dimensions
Cultural stereotypes do not actually reflect human preference they reflect basic, medieval
values and heterosexual ideas constructed by the mainstream media.
- suggests general European values are contrary to the nature of progressive thought.
- Up until the modern era history has basically been shaped by the writings and
philosophies of men- up until 1950 women produced only 2% of literature in
national libraries.
Problems faced by the EU
- Balancing of powers
- Dismemberment of the EU
- Immigration
- Economic
- Definitions of national identity
Consider Key points from a political and linguistic point of view:
- Organization of decisions concerning shared interests- evolution of institutions.
› Ideologies and their influence in evolution of the EU.
› The role of the constructed national identities.
Literature and culture:
Consider the shared past, present and future shared narrative across European culture and
their evolution.
› How have changes in the media influenced this development?
Literature and culture standardisation
The standardisation of cultural literature has played a key role in the formation of cultural
identity in national regions.
Week 2:
Key aspects: Rethinking due to more scientific studying and discovery.
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