Identity Formation of Elites in Old and New Member States (with a Special Focus on the Czech Elite)

• Published in: Europe-Asia studies Vol. 61; no. 6; pp. 1021 - 1040
• Main Authors: Mansfeldova, Zdenka, Spicarova Staskova, Barbora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.08.2009; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Accession; Attitude formation; Attitudes; Civics; Constitutions; Countries; Cultural identity; Czech Republic; Elites; EU membership; European integration; European Union; Group identity; Identity; Identity formation; International organizations; Membership; National identity; Political economy; Political elites; Political identity; Political integration; Supranationalism; Treaties; Values; Czech Republic; Europe
• ISSN: 0966-8136; 1465-3427
• DOI: 10.1080/09668130903063575

The European Union (EU) and the concept of creating a new supranational political institution has been going through an unusually dynamic period of development in recent years. It has to do not only with the admission of a large number of new members in a very short period of time, but also with projects designed to deepen integration. These however have not necessarily been successful as evidenced by the rejection of the European Constitution and the current difficulties in approving the Lisbon Treaty. In light of these processes, in this essay we shall examine whether Europe is united or actually still divided. Some authors postulate the existence of an 'old Europe' and a 'new Europe'; the pretence of unity on the eve of expansion appears to have disappeared and one can only anticipate further fragmentation with the 10 new members of the 2004 enlargement each possessing different social, political and economic conditions (Ichijo & Spohn 2005, p. 1). The various EU member states have gone through different processes of state formation, nation building and democratisation, and, as a result, they have developed different forms of national identity. At the same time, membership of the EU, including the association phase, presupposed the existence of shared European values, norms and goals and the creation of a supranational, European identity. Whether this new identity is embraced by the member states and citizens of the various countries in the same way or differently remains questionable, as does the extent of difference between the content of European identity and national identity.