European Identity and Cross Cultural Communication

MODERN HISTORY OF THE EUROEPEAN IDEA AND IDENTITY
European identity and intercultural communication
Course syllabus
Birte Wassenberg
Maître de conférences en Histoire contemporaine
Institut des Hautes études européennes, UdS
I. INTRODUCTION: EUROPE AND ITS IDENTITY
1. Terminology and definitions: What is Europe? What is European identity?
2. The cultural basis, values and diversity of European identity
3. The First World War and its repercussions on the conception of European
civilization
4. European identity and the idea of European integration after World War II
II. THE DECLINE OF EUROPEAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY (1919-1945)
1. The situation of Europe after WWI
2. Visions of European integration and initiatives of
European cooperation in the 1920s
3. The rise of nationalism and its impact on European
identity
4. The decline of European civilization? Nazi Germany,
WWII and European resistance (1940-1945)
Work in class: Violation of Human Rights during the Nazi
regime (Study visit Struthof)
III FOUNDATIONS OF A NEW EUROPE AFTER 1945
1. The idea of a united Europe against the threat of
communism (Winston Churchill)
2. The process towards the creation of a Council of
Europe (1948-1949)
3. European values and ideals of the Council of Europe:
democracy, human rights and rule of law
4. The rise of the cold War: two Europes with two
different identities?
Work in class: Zurich speech of Winston Churchill (1946),
The statute of the Council of Europe (Study visit: Council
of Europe, Court of Human Rights)
IV. THE BUILDING OF A (WESTERN) EUROEPAN IDENTITY? (1950-1989)
1. The Council of Europe’s approach to European culture and identity: cultural
cooperation, symbols and the concept of a “large Europe”
2. Europe as an economic community (the concept of the CEE/EU)
3. The complexity of multiple (European, national, regional-) identities and
cultural diversity in Europe
4. European identity in the period of the cold war and the role of the two
superpowers (US-Soviet Union). Western Europe versus Eastern Europe:
between opposition and cooperation (Ostpolitik).
Work in class on comparison EU/Council of Europe,
Committee of Regions (Study visit) and Congress of
local and regional authorities

MODERN HISTORY OF THE EUROEPEAN IDEA AND IDENTITY
V. TOWARDS A (PAN)EUROPEAN IDENTITY AFTER THE FALL OF THE
BERLIN WALL 1989
1 The Council of Europe’s enlargement after 1989
2 The debate about the “limits” of Europe
3. The EU-enlargement in 2004 and 2007
4. Reforms and trends of the Council of Europe and the EU
Work in class: simulation game on the enlargement of the Council of Europe
VI. THE RISE OF EUROSCEPTICISM
1 The origins of Euroscepticism in the 1980s
2. Decreasing support of public opinion for Europe since the Treaty of
Maastricht (1992)
3. The negative image of Europe and its causes: fears and deficits
4. Remedies for a renewed (positive) European identity by European
organizations (EU and Council of Europe)
Work in class: working groups on factors of Euroscepticism
VII. WORKING TOGETHER IN EUROPE: PROBLEMS OF INTERCULTURAL
COMMUNICATION
1. European culture(s) and cultural perceptions
2. The origins of intercultural conflicts : stereotypes and prejudices
3. Problems in intercultural understanding
4. Principles and practice of intercultural communication
Group work in class on stereotypes
VIII. WORKING TOGETHER IN EUROPE: TOOLS FOR INTERCULTURAL
MANAGEMENT
1. Intercultural management in Europe : definition and principles
2. The four phases of project management in an intercultural context
3. Obstacles and problems of intercultural management in Europe
4. Guidelines for an efficient European projet management
Work in class: interculturel simulation game
X. CHALLENGES FOR EUROPEAN CULTURE AND IDENTITY IN THE 21 st
CENTURY
1 The threat of globalization
2 The threat of capitalism : economic crisis and decline
3 New political culture(s) in Europe: a problem for democracy?
4 The deficits of the institutional framework of European organizations
CONCLUSIONS : WHICH FUTURE FOR EUROPEAN INTEGRATION AND
IDENTITY?
The limits of European integration
1. The limits of European identity
2. American identity versus European identity?

MODERN HISTORY OF THE EUROEPEAN IDEA AND IDENTITY
CLASS ASSESSMENT
Each student will present a paper (5-10 pages) on one of a list of subjects related to
the course which will distributed in class. There will be an oral presentation in class
and a grade for the written paper.
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