Culture
CULTURE:
What leads us to call a group of people a nation? Economic interests? Culture? Political unity? Ethnic unity? Territorial boundries? Security considerations? All of these concepts are closely interwined. But, are they “sin quo non”?
People can feel themselves as a nation without having a common territory as in the case of Israel. A further example could be America where people do not share a common ethnicity but having a strong sense of national identity.
So there must be something essential that binds them together. This phenomenon comprises of language, traditions, customs, art, music, literature and usually religion, which can be summed up as the way the people construct their identities, the way they attach meanings to their lives, simply their values. These are essential components of culture, that gives a direction to decision making process.
Drawing a parallel line to the European integration process, which was formerly based on economic integration and now evolving towards a political union is emphasizing a common European Culture.
When we think of the necessity of having a consensus on the way of political integration, the existence of a set of common values, therefore culture becomes crucial.
However, European Union has fifteen member countries, considering the different historical settings and nationalities, it seems hard to achieve a unique Europe with a common European culture. “There wil always be a France!”1
EUROPE AND EUROPEANNESS:
The concept of Europe is debatable issue. The terms that we call Europe: Is it only a territory or does it have a historical foundation attached to these geographical considerations? Or, does the pursuit of national self-interest make up Europe, like in the case of Germany.2 Forming an alliance with the Ottoman Empire during the First World War, through which the Ottoman Empire was incorporated to Europe.2 Considering the European Union, is...
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