European Identity - Individual, Group and Society - HumanitarianNet

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288 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, GROUP AND SOCIETYthe absence of war, that is, physical violence and confrontation resultingin substantial human and material losses. This narrow definition andunderstanding were at the heart of both domestic and internationalpolitics since ancient times throughout the cold war era. During thisperiod, the entire world remained under the constant threat of an alloutwar between two super powers that threaten each other with totaldestruction with nuclear arms. Within states, leaders used coercivemeans, including physical violence, to contain and suppress resistanceand deviance from the mainstream ideology and culture. The failure toprevent the Second World War and the collapse of the soviet empire(despite and ironically because of its harsh and repressive methods)have shown that Peace is more than the absence of physical violence;and that it therefore can best be achieved through other means thanthe use of force. It has finally been acknowledged that instead of “Sivis pacem para bellum”, the appropriate slogan is “Si vis pacem parapacem”: If you want peace do prepare yourself for peace, and not forwar as it used to be advised.This conceptual and definitional shift has occurred thanks to somethinkers who devoted their energy and time to showing that Peace is acomprehensive concept referring both to our state of mind and oursocial behaviour. It is best achieved through being at peace withoneself and with others at the same time, independently of one’sorigin, beliefs, age, social class or profession. It is best pursued throughthe satisfaction of basic human needs, expectations, aspirations andinterests that include but are not limited to shelter, cloth, food, water,health services, education, belonging, affection, identity, self-esteem,respect, recognition, acceptance, love, self-realisation, decision-makingpower, freedom, dignity, security and justice.ConflictCONFLICT occurs when one or more of these aspirations, needs,expectations, and interests are arbitrarily and unjustly denied in a wayor another. In this sense, conflict is also more than physical violence orwar. In its most basic definition, CONFLICT is a situation of open orcovert tension generated by the denial or failure to satisfy the political,economic, cultural, spiritual, and social aspirations, expectations, andneeds of individuals and/or groups. The less material are the needs themore complex a conflict becomes. Indeed, it is naturally difficult tosatisfy non-material human needs such as respect, recognition,acceptance, belonging, and self-realisation. The persistence of such
EUROPEAN PACIFISM AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRANSVERSAL AND ... 289failure and/or denial normally leads individuals or groups to resort tovarious forceful means that can include physical violence in pursuit ordefence of their needs and interests.IdentityYet, for individuals or groups to unite and stand up together fortheir basic needs and interests, there needs to be a mobilising element,a common identifier, so to speak. The shared identifying feature can beeither subjective (values and beliefs) or objective (language, nationality,history, profession) or both. And here is where IDENTITY comes intoplay for contributing to peace or conflict. In fact, IDENTITY refers to“the way we categorise ourselves and others.” The Webster’sEncyclopaedic Dictionary defines identity as, I quote, “the condition ofbeing oneself and not another; ... the condition or character as to whoa person is.” End of quotation. From this definition, one can concludethat there is no single common universal definition for IDENTITY. Thecondition of being oneself can vary and be affected by variouscontextual factors. The way we define, categorise and group US asdifferent from OTHERS implies a preference for certain criteria to thedetriment of others. As these criteria depend themselves upon somefunctional circumstances, therefore part of a dynamic process, theconcept of identity becomes itself dynamic rather than static anddefinite. At one time the subject of an identity may be an individual, afamily, a community, as it can be a society at another time.The Self, the key reference for identity formation, may bedetermined at a given time in terms of some objective criteria such aslanguage, citizenship, religion, territory, common history or sharedpolitical beliefs and systems. Even objective criteria are far frommeeting the satisfaction and consensus of every one from one’s group.They most of the time rather reflect individual’s perceptions or those ofthe most influential persons within a group or the most influentialgroups within a given community. More caution is even required whenit comes to deal with subjective criteria such as shared values andperceptions, feelings, and ideals.All in all, IDENTITY as both a concept and condition of being isinherently dynamic and evolves within the complex process of life. Thishighlights the importance of IDENTITY in the construction of aharmonious society. The recognition and consideration of differentgroup identities helps determine their needs and the means to satisfythem both for the survival and well being of the group concerned as
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Inés María Gómez-Chacón (ed.)Eu
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European Identity.Individual, Group
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ContentsIntroduction . . . . . . .
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CONTENTS 914. The Construction of E
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12 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL, G
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Opening AddressCamino Cañón Loyes
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OPENING ADDRESS 29throughout histor
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OPENING ADDRESS 31—To gather expe
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OPENING ADDRESS 33European nature a
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1.What do we Mean When we Say Europ
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WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY EUROPE 39W
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WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY EUROPE 41O
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WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY EUROPE 43u
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WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY EUROPE 45e
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WHAT WE MEAN WHEN WE SAY EUROPE 47A
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3.Europe, from the Institutional Re
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EUROPE, FROM THE INSTITUTIONAL REFE
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4.The European Dimension of Educati
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THE EUROPEAN DIMENSION OF EDUCATION
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100 EUROPEAN IDENTITY. INDIVIDUAL,
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6.European Programmes from SpainEnc
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EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES FROM SPAIN 113(
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EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES FROM SPAIN 115S
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EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES FROM SPAIN 117s
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EUROPEAN PROGRAMMES FROM SPAIN 119A
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7.Is the European Model Being Rejec
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IS THE EUROPEAN MODEL BEING REJECTE
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IS THE EUROPEAN MODEL BEING REJECTE
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8.Boderline Europeans:Nationalisms
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BODERLINE EUROPEANS: NATIONALISMS A
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9.Difference as Destabilizing Facto
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DIFFERENCE AS DESTABILISING FACTOR
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11.What Makes us European? Identity
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WHAT MAKES US EUROPEAN? IDENTITY CO
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12.The Meaning of European Identity
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THE MEANING OF EUROPEAN IDENTITY: P
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14.The Construction of the European
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THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE EUROPEAN ID
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