The Impacts of European Economic Crisis on European Identity

The Impacts of European Economic Crisis on European Identity

AYDENIZ, Nihat
SILINIR, Murat

European identity is a concept that is constructed on the framework of European Union objective. This objective is an inevitable component of union and requires process to achieve its goals. The construction of European identity is considered as a crucial target in pursuing the establishment of a politically, economically and culturally powerful united Europe in the world. European Union is currently facing severe economic crisis. This crisis is not just an economic crisis, it also reflects identity crisis. European values, such as fundamental human rights, democracy, and rule of law, individual freedom and spread of welfare are under threat of economic crisis and higher uncertainty. Solution of economic crisis would be shield for these universal values of European Union and identity. That’s why, it is very important to construct new multi-dimensional paradigm. The construction of new multidimensional paradigm depends on real analysis of economic crisis and its other aspects. In addition, there must be long and short term problem solving approaches. In the short term, economic and political cooperation of members are very vital. Moreover, the end of debt crisis and weakness of competitiveness are staminal. Therefore, member states of union are obliged to leave the old habits of the nation - state. As is known, in the crisis times, nations prefer nationalist tendency to overcome structural problems and receive public support. Whereas, this classic reflex of states just deepen existing instability in regional and global levels. However, in the long term, economic structure of European Union depends on new market liberalization and political reforms. There are three main purpose of this study. First to analyze correlation between economic crisis of European Union and Identity. Secondly, to examine political reflections of EU’s economic crisis in the context of casual factors. Finally, projection will be made about the future of European Union. Keywords: European Union, Economic Crisis, European Identity, Identity Crisis.

Article
PeerReviewed

ISSN 2303-4564

International Burch University

2013-05-10

1655