Fourth Research Programm of the MZES (1999

5.3 Identity and Identity Processes: A European Comparison

Director: Waldemar Lilli, Dagmar Stahlberg

Researcher: Manuela Koob, N.N.

Duration: July 1999 to December 2001

The political relevance of the project results from the general perception that the sustainable success of the attempts at European integration will not least depend on whether the citizens of the participant states can be convinced of the sense of these attempts. The starting hypothesis is that belonging to and the degree of identification with existing societies, i.e. existing identities, form a decisive foundation for the evaluation of European interests and decisions.

The goal of this research is to indicate conditions that facilitate or hinder the development of European identities.

A European identity can only emerge if an additional (not necessarily material) advantage of this supranational configuration is recognizable, one which the existing collective bodies do not provide. At the current moment the possibility that a European identity could take the place of existing (national) identities can be excluded. The following principle is valid: Identities on various levels are combinable if they satisfy complementary needs. If, however, there is a conflictual relationship between European and national decisions, a threat to national independence may be perceived and the acceptance of the EU may be reduced as a consequence.

In this regard nation and region form the most important hierarchy of collective identities. Starting with the concept of comparative identities we assume a competitive relationship between these identities and postulate as a central hypothesis:

Attitudes to and evaluations of supranational (European) decisions can be more precisely predicted if the (country-specific) relationship of national to regional identitiy serves as a basis for such predictions. The higher the relative importance of regional or national identity is, the stronger the approval or rejection of European developments will be expected to be.

An opinion poll of parallel socio-demographic samples in selected western European countries (regions) on both specific and general European and other topics is planned, along with the measurement of national and regional identity.

With regard to fundamental identity processes as well as the measurement of national and regional identity, it will be possible to draw on work done for previous projects. Existing international contacts will facilitate the collection of data.

Necessary preliminary work for the planned grant application will include: 1) the systematic selection of countries to be compared, 2) the preparation and testing of the question list and 3) the operationalization of a measuring instrument for comparative identities which is appropriate for the research question.


	Fourth Research Programm 1999 - 2002
	5.3 Identity and Identity Processes: A European Comparison Director: Waldemar Lilli, Dagmar Stahlberg Researcher: Manuela Koob, N.N. Duration: July 1999 to December 2001 The political relevance of the project results from the general perception that the sustainable success of the attempts at European integration will not least depend on whether the citizens of the participant states can be convinced of the sense of these attempts. The starting hypothesis is that belonging to and the degree of identification with existing societies, i.e. existing identities, form a decisive foundation for the evaluation of European interests and decisions. The goal of this research is to indicate conditions that facilitate or hinder the development of European identities. A European identity can only emerge if an additional (not necessarily material) advantage of this supranational configuration is recognizable, one which the existing collective bodies do not provide. At the current moment the possibility that a European identity could take the place of existing (national) identities can be excluded. The following principle is valid: Identities on various levels are combinable if they satisfy complementary needs. If, however, there is a conflictual relationship between European and national decisions, a threat to national independence may be perceived and the acceptance of the EU may be reduced as a consequence. In this regard nation and region form the most important hierarchy of collective identities. Starting with the concept of comparative identities we assume a competitive relationship between these identities and postulate as a central hypothesis: Attitudes to and evaluations of supranational (European) decisions can be more precisely predicted if the (country-specific) relationship of national to regional identitiy serves as a basis for such predictions. The higher the relative importance of regional or national identity is, the stronger the approval or rejection of European developments will be expected to be. An opinion poll of parallel socio-demographic samples in selected western European countries (regions) on both specific and general European and other topics is planned, along with the measurement of national and regional identity. With regard to fundamental identity processes as well as the measurement of national and regional identity, it will be possible to draw on work done for previous projects. Existing international contacts will facilitate the collection of data. Necessary preliminary work for the planned grant application will include: 1) the systematic selection of countries to be compared, 2) the preparation and testing of the question list and 3) the operationalization of a measuring instrument for comparative identities which is appropriate for the research question.

Fourth Research Programm 1999 - 2002

5.3 Identity and Identity Processes: A European Comparison