LECTURE 1



   

   IDENTITY AS A CONCEPT: THE `NARRATIVE OF IDENTITY' IN THE SOCIO-CULTURAL AND POLITICAL SPHERE

   

   

   

   1.                  What we mean by `identity' -- the theoretical concept.

   

   

   

   2.                   The symbols and processes that contribute to the production of identity
   at the national level.

   

   

   

   3.                  Processes that could produce and promote a European Union identity.

   



   

                                             LECTURE 1

   

IDENTITY

   

   

   -  THE `NARRATIVE OF THE NATION'

   - national history

   - literature

   - through the media

   - through popular culture

   

      these provide:

   - a set of stories, images, historical events, national symbols and rituals

   

   ...which represent:

   - the shared experiences, triumphs and disasters, which give meaning to the nation

   

                       -----------------------------------------------------

   

   

   LECTURE 1

   

   "The nine member states shared the same attitudes to life, based on determination to build a
   society which measures up to the needs of the individual, that each wished to ensure that the
   cherished values of their legal, political and moral order are respected. And that all were
   determined to defend the principles of representative democracy, the rule of law, social
   justice (the ultimate goal of economic progress) and respect for human rights."

                             (Commission of the European Community, 1973)

                                        SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT:



   

   -   establishing over time a greater degree of mutual acceptance or tolerance amongst the
   different peoples (different populations of each state) of the European Union.

   

   

   -   through processes such as:

   - education

   - cultural exchanges

   - communication processes

   - economic and political processes

   - social celebrations/anniversaries/festivals