The impact of Valletta 2018 on the European identity of the Maltese population

Abstract

The ‘European dimension’ is key to European Capital of Culture (ECoC) programmes. There is a general expectation that ECoCs will have an impact on the feeling of European-ness of the host societies. Yet whether and to what extent this is actually the case is unclear, for at least three reasons. First, the variable of interest – European identity – is an inherently elusive concept. Second, identity is by definition a relatively stable character, which hardly changes in the turn of a few years. Third, to capture the nuances and specificities of single environments, most studies of identity are strictly tailored to the context; which hinders systematic analysis, comparison, and replication. This study aims to provide a systematic assessment of the impact of Valletta 2018 on the European identity of the Maltese society. In order to overcome the constraints to a comprehensive and reliable analysis, the study draws on advanced approaches to the study of European identity as developed in recent large-scale comparative research. In particular, the study builds on a multidimensional notion of ‘European citizenship’ based on three interrelated components: identity (the feeling of belonging to the European Union (EU)), representation (the extent to which actors perceive that the EU the provides representation to their interests), and scope (the degree to which actors would like the EU to have jurisdiction on a wide range of policies). While the core identity component is more resistant to change, the representation and scope dimensions could instead be expected to change following exposure and participation to Valletta 2018 events. This project applies a mixed methodology based on both quantitative and qualitative techniques. A panel study – that is, a study observing the same sample of population over time – will monitor European identity in the Maltese society, and the impact of Valletta 2018 on it, between 2015 and 2019. A desktop research exercise will form the basis of the study, capitalising on several European and National data sources followed by a quantitative large-scale survey will be carried out in the early and final years in order to obtain systematic comparable data, while intensive interviews with focus groups will be carried out in between to obtain a deeper insight on the nature, degree, and causes of identity change (if any).