“The Ideological, Cultural and Social Background of the Enlarged Europe”

Various theories claim to account for the development towards a unified Europe. Many of these offer an explanation of the contemporary process with regard to the European Union as a politico-economic entity at present. Yet, more often than not the history of Europe as a multifarious collection of national states is hardly taken into account in a systematic way. In addition, the role of political parties, or the elites, representing the different populations as governmental agents is often overlooked in view of their capacities by means of ‘symbolic politics ’ to develop a lasting ‘permissive consensus ’ of the different populations vis-à-vis EUrope. In my view the slow and complex process of European integration can be understood – at least in part- as a path dependent development that is defined by a nation’s collective memories of (in part coercive) conflicts between and within nations and the resulting ‘multiple ’ identities. Europe’s conflict-ridden history, especially during the 20th century, is relevant for understanding national responses of the political elites and the respective populations to the integration of Europe into EUrope at present. Contents