German Identity in the Context of the European Union Enlargement Eastward: A Step Closer to Germanness?

Abstract

In its quest for an “ever closer Union,” the EU is progressively building power in the sphere of politics, financing, security, and identity formation. This case study of German national identity explores the impact of intensified Europeanization on the (trans)formation and expression of notions such as national identity, consciousness, and the feeling of national belonging. For several decades, Germany has been hailed as an exemplary EU supporter with low levels of national attachment. However, an in-depth analysis of the German media narrative surrounding identity (trans)formation in the context of the EU eastern enlargement reveals surprising insights, which challenge Germany’s Europeanness, while German citizens increasingly appear to perceive German national identity and pride as positive concepts. This development has coincided with the rise of Euroscepticism in the EU. This master thesis explores a tenuous connection between these two developments and the factors at play.