Imagining Europe

The identity of Europe has always been elusive and in-flux, a source of pride for some and contempt or fear from others. Like all identities it is a construction, a complex palimpsest of stories, collective memories, and invented and nurtured traditions. Far from being mere abstractions, ideas about Europe have had concrete effects on world politics and cultures as well as individuals’ lives. This unit analyses the evolution of the idea of Europe from the ancient times to today. Through a variety of perspectives and texts, it explores how ideas of Europe have been endorsed and challenged within and outside Europe.