Identità ed Alterità nell'Unione Europea

Most European states have been countries of immigration for a long time and are today de facto multiethnic and multicultural. Nonetheless, the management of ethno-cultural diversity is still a key issues in the process of European integration. In this process the notion of identity plays a pivotal role. Identity is continuously reshaped throughout one’s existence: we all have multi-layered identities, which cannot and should not be compartmentalized, let alone labeled, since they are not innate, unchangeable entities, which can be genetically transmitted. Collective identities are in fact neither a once-and-for-all or a clear-cut affair, but rather a socio-cultural perception. Additionally, evolution in communications and technology, as well as migration flows and the more general phenomenon of globalization are creating socio-political transformations and are profoundly transforming knowledge, perception and behaviour. In particular, reactions to globalization, which tends to exacerbate the identity-centred behaviour (Maalouf 1998, p.125). The fear of standardization is in fact driving everyone to all the more assert their difference, and has led to the onset of many particularisms which, however by reducing the identity of a person to a single belonging, reneges on the complexity of everyone’s identity. The need of collective membership, whether it is cultural, religious or national, tough in itself legitimate, has led too often to the fear of the Other and to his absolute negation. Communities tend to coalesce around a (frequently hostile) confrontation between “us” and “them”, and the desire for identity has often led to “murderous slippage”. Throughout the history of mankind many genocides have been committed on the basis of personal, religious, ethnic or national identity, and identitybased crimes are still under way in many parts of the world. In this scenario also different languages may purposely become over ostentatious signs of difference. Conversely, if the European Union ever wants to be a true multiethnic society, we all must learn to transcend our differences and our individual particularist belonging, in the recognition not only of the Other, but of being strangers to ourselves too (Kristeva 1988/2014)