The Idea of Europe

Doelstellingen van dit vak

At the end of this course, students will: • Have a basic overview of the development of the idea and identity of Europe, which can serve as a broad historical framework for understanding the process of European integration as it has occurred after 1945; • Be more familiar with specific characteristics of European history, notably in comparison with that of other (non-European) societies; • Have an understanding of some of the basic theoretical and methodological problems in dealing with this subject matter. Students are introduced to problems concerning the study of identity, especially the social and symbolic construction of community and identity, as well as corresponding notions of representation, invention of tradition, and ‘lieux de mémoire’. They are also made familiar - at a rudimentary level - with some of the most influential (and contested) theories in the historical study of society like Max Weber’s concept of rationality, Norbert Elias’ theory of civilisation, different views on modernisation (Sigmund Freud, Ernest Gellner, Zygmunt Bauman).