The public debate about the European constitutional treaty provided an opportunity to discuss common values that are the ideal of all Europeans. The existence of a community based on a consensus of a certain political model based on togetherness cannot be criticised. In fact, such criticism would be seen as a sin against the modern moral code which is based on a democratic order and the respect of human rights. The problem is that Europe is a place of diversity and often, of violent conflicts. This aspect of cultural confrontation, lack of tolerance for otherness and difficult negotiation between what unites and what divides nations is very often hidden in public communication about Europe. An interdisciplinary approach, inspired by cultural anthropology, inter-ethnic relations, sociology and cross-cultural communication, is more adapted to analyse such problems, which need to be treated now, while European integration is on route.
Keywords
- European identity
- intercultural anthropology
- political communication