Pulling Together or Pulling Apart? : Perspectives on Nationhood, Identity, and Belonging in Europe

In the aftermath of the twentieth century’s raging warfare, attempts were made to create an environment in which new relationships between European nations could be built around a common identity. Yet, in the twenty-first century, identity conflicts are gaining a new intensity in parts of the continent. In the analysis of some sub-state nationalist parties, the prospect of European Union membership reduces the economic and political risks of secession. Meanwhile, to the east, any moves towards expansion of EU membership are viewed by Russia not as a peace project but as acts of aggression. This volume assembles a series of comparative and single-area case studies drawn from different academic disciplines. While interrogating the history of identity conflict in the European context, an essential component of efforts to reduce such conflicts in the future, the authors bring an array of methodological approaches to analyses of the many intersecting political, cultural and economic factors that influence the formation of nationhood and identity, and the resurgence of nationalism. PrefaceADRIAN GUELKEIntroductionSUSANA BAYÓ BELENGUER AND NICOLA BRADYThe Basque Country within Spain and Europe: Proposals of the Basque Nationalist Party during the Spanish Transition to Democracy (1975-1980)LEYRE ARRIETA ALBERDINationalism: In Correspondence with Professor Xosé Manuel Núñez SeixasSUSANA BAYÓ BELENGUER AND NICOLA BRADYEnlargement from Within? Secession and EU MembershipEMMANUEL DALLE MULLEFlagging the NationGORKA ETXEBARRIAAl tyempo del kuechko dulse: History, Language, Identity in Enrique Soporta y Beja's account of Jewish Life in SalonikaKATERINA GARCIAPatria and Citizenship: Primo de Rivera, Caciques and Military Delegados, Spain 1923-1924RICHARD GOWBecoming Catalan through Speech: Narrative Cultivation of Self among Catalan NationalistsMARK FRIIS HAURussian Geopolitical Thinking and the Ukrainian Crisis: Neo-Imperialist Aspirations or a mere Survival Strategy?CARLES JOVANí GILContested Unionism along the Irish Border at the Time of Partition DANIEL PURCELLRe-Building Bridges: Nations and States in present-day SpainJOAN ROMERO, JOAQUÍN MARTÍN CUBAS, MARGARITA SOLER, JOSÉ MARÍA VIDAL, CARLES JOVANÍSeparatism in the New Millenium: Looking Back to See ForwardROBERT SAUNDERSThe Catalan Pro-Independence Movement: Impact on the International Agenda and Media PluralismMARÇAL SINTES-OLIVELLA, JOSEP-LLUÍS MICÓ-SANZ, FRANCESC-MARC ÁLVARO VIDALPulling Together Romanians: Post-2007 Relations between Citizenship and NationhoodSORINA SOAREThe Democratic Principle, Secession and Self-Determination in the Practice of International Law: Lessons LearnedIÑIGO URRUTIAEthical Nationalism: Social Citizenship in Multi-National StatesERIK VANDERHEYDEN In the aftermath of the twentieth century's raging warfare, attempts were made to create an environment in which new relationships between European nations could be built around a common identity. Yet, in the twenty-first century, identity conflicts are gaining a new intensity in parts of the continent. In the analysis of some sub-state nationalist parties, the prospect of European Union membership reduces the economic and political risks of secession. Meanwhile, to the east, any moves towards expansion of EU membership are viewed by Russia not as a peace project but as acts of aggression. This volume assembles a series of comparative and single-area case studies drawn from different academic disciplines.--Publisher's description

In the aftermath of the twentieth century's raging warfare, attempts were made to create an environment in which new relationships between European nations could be built around a common identity. Yet, in the twenty-first century, identity conflicts are gaining a new intensity in parts of the continent. In the analysis of some sub-state nationalist parties, the prospect of European Union membership reduces the economic and political risks of secession. Meanwhile, to the east, any moves towards expansion of EU membership are viewed by Russia not as a peace project but as acts of aggression. This volume assembles a series of comparative and single-area case studies drawn from different academic disciplines.