Suchergebnisse

Many authors have discussed issues connected with the EU's quest for more legitimacy through establishing a collective identity. A plethora of publications stress that collective identity contributes in a crucial manner to societal and political cohesion among EU citizens and EU elites. The EU has been trying to construct a collective identity by applying identity technologies towards its own citizens. These identity technologies work in a top-down manner. Adapted from the source document.

Constitutionalization - the creation of a formal 'constitution' for the European Union - has been seen as a response to the eastern enlargement, on the basis of the three main functions of constitutions: the organizational function, the stabilization function and the legitimating function. However, functional arguments are not sufficient for explaining the constitutionalization of the EU as a response to this enlargement. An alternative explanation refers to the behaviour of the large member states acting in their own self-interest to shift the power relations in the EU in their favour. Using conventions as the method of bringing this about has served both to legitimize and to conceal this motivation. This factor in the evolution of the European Union carries implications for the countries that aspire to become EU members. Adapted from the source document.

The article refers to collective identity as a sense of commonness between individuals that fosters a general commitment to the public interest. In order to establish the link between collective identity & citizenship, three models of citizenship are explored (republican, liberal & caesarean). Finally, the model of European citizenship & its corresponding collective identity are elaborated. Tables, References. Adapted from the source document.