CRITIQUE OF EUROPEAN IDEOLOGY: A CASE STUDY ON EASTERN ENLARGEMENT

Details

Supervisors

Defraigne, Jean-Christophe

Faculty

Faculté des sciences économiques, sociales, politiques et de communication

Degree label

Master [120] en études européennes (UCLouvain / USL-B)

Abstract

The European Union (EU) was firstly an economic union. The ideas which consolidated cooperation among the countries which first joined the then European Economic Community (EEC) did not claim to be in the pursuit of “a grand mission” in contrast to communism. However, the countries which did later join the EU in 2004 and 2007 following the first four decades of the creation of European Project had been precisely a part of this grand communist narrative. Thus, one of the principal objectives of this paper is to assess how the heritage of the Eastern member states coincides with the narrative of the European Union which is still under construction. Through the analysis of this particular example, the revelation of the main ideological contradictions within the EU as a whole will be made. The search for inconsistencies and possible sources of tension in the narrative is considered as crucially important for studies on the European Union. Firstly, because EU officials have expressed the need for the identification of new ‘scenarios’ for the future make-up of the entity. In addition, F. Mogherini repeatedly talks about the need for new structures for defense policy. Moreover, the newly elected president of France, Emmanuel Macron, also presented his initiatives. While the laying out of these proposals is closely related to reaction to the Brexit issue, one of the most-well known proposed solutions – i.e., a multi-speed Europe – does not seem suitable for the Eastern Countries. Whereas the President of Poland Andrzej Duda have said that two-speed Europe would lead to further economic and political divisions which would mean the end of the Union itself. Therefore, studies which would assess the impact of the EU’s current ideology and reveal the specifics of its relations, consistency, and influence on its member states are more relevant and needed than ever before. In addition, the simplified deterministic approach cannot fully reveal and explain why challenges such as Brexit, or the sudden disobedience of a member states regarding migration issues, and the rise of populism in the Eastern region have emerged. These have to be analyzed in-depth and with critical regard to their core raison d’être, i.e., ideology. Study of ideology is problematic and interdisciplinary, encompassing studies on facts, economy, history, communication, concepts, and the analysis of narratives. Critical studies of ideology have to be based not only on the observations of facts and precise data assessment but also must include philosophical and historical considerations which are not self-evident. Due to this thesis’ theoretical framework – which at the same time serves as a method is dialectical critique. A contemporary dialectical critique is a part of the critical theory which is also sometimes applied as a method for conducting research in international relations. This theory, while analyzing EU ideology in the light of case studies of eastern enlargement, will allow to reveal the tensions and inconsistencies which exist within EU ideology. Moreover, as the concept of ideology is complexed in itself the thorough outlook on will be made. The theoretical considerations on what constitutes as ideology and how it can be characterize will help to assess principal ideological assumption of EU with more accuracy.