Ritual and Affect in Europe Day Celebrations: Institutional Practices of European Identity Construction in Crisis

Abstract

AbstractThis article analyses Europe Day celebration practices and explores the role of ritual and its utility in eliciting the affective dimension of European identity construction in crisis. The article reflects on the considerable variation of Europe Day celebration practices, proposes a typology of Europe Day events and reflects on their merit in eliciting reason‐ and affect‐driven institutional approaches in the strategic promotion of European identity to the public. The article employs affect theory to reflect on the relationship between emotions and identity. It argues that institutional efforts aimed to promote European identity within the Europe Day platform rely on actualizing the affective potential underpinning collective identities with the view to compel public support for European integration by inciting emotional engagement and boosting the public's affective investment.