| CODE | EST3213 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Identity and Culture in Europe | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 6 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | European Studies | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | Debates surrounding culture and identity in Europe never abated. Margaret Thatcher claimed that “Europe is not based on a common language, culture and values.” In contrast, during a press conference, Charles De Gaulle remarked that Europe is not just a union concerning itself with the production of coal and steel, but it is also the Europe of Dante, Goethe and Chateaubriand – thus implying a broader cultural underpinning to the European project. This study-unit is divided into six main themes. The first theme identifies the main definitions concerning culture, identity, nation and nation-state. It then delves deeper into more specific areas: the idea of Europe and its evolution, the challenges of a European identity, imagining European identity, the link between culture and identity and politics, and the role of the iconography of statehood. Study-unit Aims: The study-unit aims to uncover the political undertones of various cultural elements which are often claimed to form the backbone of European identity. It also seeks to outline the political uses of the discourse on identity and to uncover its uses at a European level. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Engage with debates concerning identity and narrative; - Identify the main debates concerning the idea of Europe; - Identify the link between culture, identity and politics. 2. Skills By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Analyse narratives concerning identity and narrative; - Write informed short pieces analysing the political significance of identity discourse; - Creatively engage with themes related to culture, politics and identity. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: Main Texts - Bartlett R, (1994) The Making of Europe: Conquest, Colonization, and Cultural Change, 950 – 1350, Princeton University Press - Black J, (2008) The Curse of History, Social Affairs Unit - DeBattista, A.P. (2022) The EU and the Multifaceted Nature of European Identity, Wilfried Martens Centre for European Studies - Delanty, G. (1995) Inventing Europe: Idea, Identity, Reality, Macmillan - Fornas, J. (2012) Signifying Europe, Intellect - Pedersen, T. (2008) When Culture becomes Politics: European Identity in Perspective, Aarhus University Press - Weller, S. (2021) The Idea of Europe: A Critical History, Cambridge University Press. And other readings uploaded on the VLE platform Supplementary Readings - Anderson, B. (2016 edition) Imagined Communities, Verso Books - Checkel, J.T. and Katzenstein, P.J. (eds.) (2009) European Identity, Cambridge University Press - Dawson, C. (1952, 2009 edition) Understanding Europe, Catholic University of America Press - Dawson, C. (1954, 2003 edition) The Making of Europe: An Introduction to the History of European Unity, Catholic University of America Press - DeBattista, A.P. & Vassallo, M.T. (eds), (2024) The Different Faces of Politics in Literature and Music, Routledge - DeBattista, A.P. & Vassallo, M.T. (eds), (2024) The Different Faces of Politics in Visual and Performative Arts, Routledge And other readings uploaded on the VLE platform. Supplemented with other books / Class readings |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Andre Paul Debattista |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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