The Euro Crisis and European Identities

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xv

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 1-15

3. European Identities at Times of Crisis

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 17-41

4. Comparing European Identities in Germany, Ireland and Poland

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 43-71

5. Has Germany Fallen Out of Love with Europe?

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 73-112

6. Irish Identity and the Utility of Europe

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 113-142

7. The Battle for the European Core: Polishness as Europeanness?

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 143-172

8. Identity Continuity: Actors, Institutions and Interests

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 173-195

9. Euroscepticism, Identity and Democracy in the EU

   • Charlotte Galpin

   Pages 197-214

10. Back Matter

    Pages 215-259

    PDF

This book builds upon our knowledge of the far-reaching economic, political and social effects of the Euro crisis on the European Union by providing a unique study of European identities. In particular, it considers the impact on the construction of European identities in political and media discourse in Germany, Ireland and Poland—three countries with profoundly different experiences of the crisis and never before compared in a single study. Offering an original insight into the dynamics of identity change at moments of upheaval, the author argues that political and media actors in the early stages of the crisis drew on long-standing identities in order to make sense of the crisis in the public sphere. European identity discourses are thus resilient to change but become central to legitimising and contesting bailouts and further economic integration. As such, the author challenges the commonly held view that identities change dramatically at times of crisis but argues that this very resilience helps to understand the EU’s current divisions. The study of identity during the Euro crisis sheds important light on the prospects for European solidarity as well as on the future of the single currency as an identity-building project. The book will be of particular interest to students and scholars in the fields of EU politics, comparative European politics, and identity politics.

• identity politics
• Euroscepticism
• economic effects of Euro crisis
• political effects of Euro crisis
• social effects of Euro crisis
• future of the Euro
• European solidarity
• European public sphere
• national identities
• European indentity
• Brexit
• Alternative für Deutschland
• political actors
• EU Legitimation
• european union politics
• german politics

“This timely book investigates the extent to which the Euro crisis has affected collective identities in Europe. Through a detailed investigation of elite discourses in Ireland, Germany, and Poland, the author demonstrates that the various debates about the crisis reflect rather than change existing identity constructions. A very well written book with carefully crafted and meticulously executed case studies which successfully challenge the conventional wisdom about European and national identities!”  (Professor Thomas Risse, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany)

“Charlotte Galpin’s book offers a fascinating, critical insight into European identity. She explores in impressive detail the way in which the Euro crisis has presented multiple new challenges to the construction of a European identity and takes us on a fascinating journey through various national discourses of “European-ness”. This book offers a fresh take on how Europeans define their shared identity in times of crisis and as such, makes for a timely and important read. It is a real must for students of European integration and analysts of the impact of the Euro crisis alike!” (Dr Carolyn Rowe, Aston University, UK)

• Media, Cognition and Communication, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

  Charlotte Galpin

Charlotte Galpin is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. She holds a PhD in Political Science and International Studies from the University of Birmingham and previously taught at the University of Bath. Her research interests include European identities and solidarity, Euroscepticism and the European public sphere, and EU democracy.

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