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‘New Europe’: Between Cosmopolitan Dreams and Nationalist Nightmares
Author(s) -
AUER STEFAN
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-5965.2010.02108.x
Subject(s) - nationalism , federalist , populism , appeal , politics , citizenship , political science , cosmopolitanism , political economy , ideal (ethics) , sociology , environmental ethics , law , philosophy
This article seeks to expose some limitations of dominant discourses about European integration. It argues that the attempt to move towards a more federalist Europe underpinned by the ideal of ‘post‐national citizenship’ (Habermas) is both unrealistic and undesirable. The populism and ethno‐centric nationalism endangering the European project emerged in Europe not despite the cosmopolitan agendas of its elites, but arguably, in response to their ambitious agendas. A more realistic view on nationalism is imperative for a better understanding of European integration; one capable of addressing the appeal of populist politics.