Richard Robyn (Ed.) (2005). The Changing Face of European
Identity: A Seven-Nation Study of (Supra)National Attachments (Routledge
Advances in European Politics series, Vol. 23). London and New York: Routledge.
256 pp., $115.00 cloth, ISBN 0415348153.
This volume is currently available from Routledge's UK office; US publication
is scheduled for 8 February 2005. Library and personal orders are encouraged
and can be made at http://www.routledge.co.uk/.
(Under 'Product Search', enter 'Richard Robyn'.)
Publisher's Information
Drawing upon systematic research using Q methodology in seven countries
-- Denmark, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Netherlands and Sweden
-- this volume presents results of the most extensive effort yet at
cross-cultural, subjective assessment of national and supranational identity.
The studies explain how the European Union, as the most visible experiment in
mass national identity change in the contemporary world, influences how Europeans
think about their political affiliations.
The particular strength of Q methodology is its capacity to
delve deeper into subjective opinion with regard to a political topic than can
be done with large-scale surveys -- a great advantage in dealing with a topic
of such complexity as identity. Q offers a unique bridge of qualitative and
quantitative approaches and a powerful tool to illuminate identity types that
exist in society. Besides the ground-breaking use of subjective methodology,
the multinational character of this project is unique as well: providing the
first cross-cultural study of national identity in Europe. Finally, this
represents one of the largest surveys ever done on subjective impressions of
European political affiliations.
The book comes to the conclusion that our view of national
identity in general, and European identity in particular, is largely uninformed
by systematic and in-depth investigation of subjective impressions. It reveals
that rather than the three basic views of European integration that
commentators and the public take for granted (nationalist, pluralist and
supranationalist), there are potentially several more, adding nuance to
discussion of national and European identity, and makes the case that identity
is undergoing considerable change in Europe.
As the first book to provide an in-depth, methodologically
focused, cross-cultural study of subjective notions of national versus
supranational identity in Europe, it will be of great interest to students and
researchers in politics, sociology and social psychology.
Chapters
1. Richard Robyn. Introduction: National versus Supranational Identity in
Europe.
2. Richard Robyn. Methodology.
3. Kim Christian Schrøder and Søren Esben Hansen. Beyond Duality: Danes' Views
on Denmark and the European Union 2001.
4. Una McCormack. Being in Europe: Pluralism and Patriotism in England and
Scotland.
5. Richard Robyn. Supranational Identity Emerging in France: Nationalism
Submergent.
6. De Forest W. Colegrove. Steadfastly European?: German (Supra)National
Identity in a Rapidly Changing Europe.
7. Andrea Pitasi, Michela Marchionni, and Maria Francesca Massoni. Italian
Multiple Identities: The Italian Perception of National and European Belonging.
8. Christ'l De Landtsheer, Craig Carroll and Ralph Hekscher. European Identity
Frames in the Netherlands.
9. John Barry. Northern Ireland, Identities and Europe.
10. Daniel Silander and Charlotte Wallin. Being a Swede in a Transforming
European Setting: The Structures of an Emerging Swedish Supranational Identity
in the Twenty-first Century.
11. Richard Robyn. Conclusion.
Editor Biography
Richard Robyn is Assistant Professor in the Department of Political
Science, Kent State University, and Director of their Washington Program in
National Issues. Professor Robyn's research focus specializes in international
and comparative politics, with a special emphasis on European national
identity. Dr. Robyn has undertaken several studies regarding the topic as well
as participated in several other academic endeavors including: work as a
Reviewer for Prentice Hall Publication, a consultant for Lynne Rienner
Publications, a career consultant for the U.S. Peace Corps, and the organizer
for Kent State's Model United Nations Program. He has published reviews and articles
in European Security, Politique Européenne, National
Identities, Politics, Groups and the Individual, and the APSA Law
and Politics Review.
Contributors
John Barry, Queen's University Belfast, UK
Craig Carroll, University of Texas at Austin
De Forest W. Colgrove, University of Maryland, USA
Christ'l De Landtsheer, University of Antwerp, Belgium
Søren Esben Hansen, ACNielsen-AIM, Copenhagen, Denmark
Ralph Hekscher, Hilversum, The Netherlands
Michela Marchionni
Maria Francesca Massoni
Una McCormack, University of Surrey, UK
Andrea Pitasi, University of Palermo, Italy
Kim Christian Schrøder, Roskilde University, Denmark
Daniel Silander, University of Växjö; Sweden
Charlotte Wallin, University of Växjö; Sweden