Guest Lecture: European identity and How It Matters in International Politics

This lecture deals with our understanding of European identity from the past to today. It starts with a critical analysis of the concept of Europe and of the debate on European borders. Today, European identity is often linked one-sidedly with the EU. A variety of concepts, such as normative power, attribute a distinct identity to the EU. However, the EU’s hegemonic role has also been challenged. The lecture seeks to clarify how identity is not just a concept of cultural-historical relevance, but how identities feature and are used in international relations today.