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The Question of European Identity

Europe in the American Mirror

UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA, kk2d{at}virginia.edu

In the wake of the Iraq war of 2003, and in response to the European reaction to the war, a number of prominent European intellectuals launched a new debate on Europe's identity, and in particular the extent to which it differed from American identity. The debate was sparked by a newspaper article by Jürgen Habermas and Jacques Derrida, which was circulated to several other intellectuals for comment. The Europe-wide debate which ensued — in which several Americans joined — provides a revealing snap-shot of European opinion on the question of Europe's identity. It illustrates in particular the dangers as well as the seductions of seeing that identity mainly in terms of a contrast with America, putatively to the advantage of the Europeans. This article argues that such a contrast fuels an anti-Americanism that is disabling to Europe and conceals many significant — and less selfflattering — aspects of the European inheritance.

Key Words: anti-Americanism • America • Europe • identity • intellectuals

European Journal of Social Theory, Vol. 11, No. 1, 87-105 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1368431007085289


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