CERC Public Seminar: '50 Years of Making Europeans'

Tuesday 20 March, 1:00-2:00pm
at Room 212, Level 2, 234 Queensberry Street, The University of Melbourne

presented by

Dr Michael Bruter

(Lecturer, Dept of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science)

download audio mp3 (approx 12 MB)

Abstract

Do Europeans feel European? After fifty years of continuing European integration, the progress of a European political and institutional system is as impressive as that of European policy, but has the European Union managed to create European citizens? In this seminar, we will address the question of European identity in reference to four original studies. We will evaluate whether or not a mass European identity has emerged in the past 50 years, the extent to which symbols of Europe and the mass media can influence citizens' identity, and finally what Europe means to European citizens and to outsiders from the Asia-Pacific region. All these elements are based on new empirical material such as mass surveys and interviews and will allow us to better understand what it means to be a European Union citizen fifty years after the signature of the Rome Treaty.

Biography

Dr Michael Bruter is a lecturer in Political Science and European Politics in the Department of Government, London School of Economics and Political Science. His teaching specializes in Politics and Policy in Europe, Politics of European integration, Elections, Public Opinion and Identities in Europe. He is a member of the editorial board, Social Science Quarterly (USA) and a past Editor of the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence for European Union Studies Research Papers Series. His recent publications include: Citizens of Europe? The emergence of a mass European identity (2005) and "On what citizens mean by feeling 'European'." Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies (2004)