In our seminar on European Identity in Britain, we explored what it means to identify with Europe in a cultural and political sense, as well as how Britain’s complex history regarding its relationship with Europe, both economically and politically, affect our modern views on European integration. We also discussed what are deemed as European values, and how European identity is affected by whether we view it as nested within or clashing with our national identity. We further explored why Britain may feel less European than anywhere else in the EU, possibly due its geographical location as an island and historical factors such as the British empire. As well as comparing British attitudes with our more pro-European neighbours such as France, we also discussed if having a strong European identity is becoming more or less important in our increasingly globalised climate.
By Olivia Walsh