CERC Public Seminar: 'The Europeanization of Europe: The transfer of norms to Europe, in Europe, from Europe'

Monday 8 May 2006, 1:00–2:00pm
at Room 212, Level 2, 234 Queensberry Street, The University of Melbourne

presented by

Dr Trine Flockhart

(International Business and Asian Studies, Griffith University)

Abstract

The paper adopts a historical sociological perspective to investigate the concept Europeanization in a long-term perspective, which challenges the conventional assumption that Europeanization has its origin in Europe and that it is purely an outward going process. Although the term ‘Europeanization’, suggests a European heritage, ‘Europeanization’ can be conceptualized as several different processes of identity constructions where Europeans have been as much on the receiving end of norm socialization as they have been promoters of a specific European norm set. In fact before Europeans could themselves ‘Europeanize’ they had to develop a European identity through processes of civilization, which although the ideas and inventions on which Europe’s civilization were based had their origin in the East, nevertheless succeeded in constructing Europe as culturally, religiously and racially superior. In the 20th century, a new form of Europeanization emerged based on new norms (democracy, market economy, human rights, the rule of law etc.), where ironically Europeans have been Europeanized mostly by Americans.

Biography

Trine Flockhart is Senior Lecturer at Griffith University, Australia. Her research interests are European Security, norm transfer and state socialisation, Europeanization and Democracy Promotion. Her publications include From Vision to Reality: Implementing the New European Security Order (Westview, 1998) and Socializing Democratic Norms: The Role of International Organizations for the Construction of Europe, (Palgrave, 2005). Her recent articles have appeared in International Relation, Perspectives on European Politics and Society, Journal of Common Market Studies, The Whitehead Journal of Diplomacy and European Journal of International Relations. She is currently working on a monograph entitled The Europeanization of Europe.