Launch of the Dahrendorf Programme's 'What Story Should Europe Tell?' Project

What story should Europe tell? Attempts to create a European narrative

Why should we tell a story about Europe? Surely don't the facts of European integration speak for themselves - the Nobel narrative of peace in Europe or the Single Market narrative of prosperity in Europe?? Since the end of the Cold War, and the steady spread of the crisis of legitimacy in political institutions across Europe, there have been increasing attempts to create a European narrative by both supporters and opponents of European integration; left and right on the political spectrum.
 
Whether we wish to or not, the story of Europe is narrativised in ways that are important and sometimes decisive in public debates and referenda. For this reason we need to understand how narratives function; which narratives co-exist in the integration process; and why narratives are a healthy part of democratic contestation and coexistence in European politics and polities. The talk will consider narratives of peace, prosperity, and progress, including economic Europe, social Europe, green Europe, and global Europe.

Professor Ian Manners works at the nexus of critical social theory and the study of the European Union in planetary politics. He has just completed a 4-year research project into 'Symbols and Myths in European Integration' funded by the Danish Social Science Research Council analysing symbols and images, myths and narratives in the EU. His primary fields of research also include British, Danish, and Swedish membership of the European Union, including the Danish 'Opt Outs' and 'Brexit'.

Please email: european.studies@sant.ox.ac.uk in order to register your attendance.