The European Public Sphere and the Social Imaginary of the 'New Europe'

Abstract

The article explores how enlargement of the European Union has affected the development of the European public sphere. At the initial stage of enlargement, communication between the `old' and `new' democracies was hampered by prejudice and estrangement from the western side and illusionary expectations from the eastern side. Different historical experiences after the Second World War had raised barriers to mutual understanding. While experiences of `building capitalism' brought post-Communist nations closer to the values of the European welfare society, the eastwards enlargement at the same time strengthened the influence of identity politics among the `old' democracies of Europe. As a result, there is now less difference between the `old' and 'new' members of the EU than was expected at the beginning of the enlargement process. The new members of the EU are even more interested in the development of the European public sphere than are many people in the West, because they see in this process their chance to be included in the European communication space as equal members. In order to reach this goal, the process of `horizontal integration' between national public spheres and the development of the common social imaginary of the new Europe is considered to be very important. ■