Where no European has gone before: Representations of Europe(an integration) in science fiction

Abstract

This article is meant to begin an investigation into the role of Europe and European integration in science fiction. After a brief discussion of methodology, it reviews a number of key novels, films and bandes dessinées of science fiction and analyses their references to Europe and European integration. The references are placed into four categories: surveillance state, conspiracy theories, environmental disasters, and space exploration. References to European integration in this genre are rare and in the case of the first three categories they are dystopian. While this can partially be attributed to a general tendency within the genre towards dystopian storytelling, it is argued that the prevalence of dystopia can also be explained with reference to moral disorientation. A notable exception is made by references to European integration in space-based science fiction, where European integration is seen as contributing towards global collaboration. This representation of European integration provides an alternative outlook on the EU as a vision of global collaboration. Science fiction is arguably not only an important method to popularise space exploration, but also a method to rekindle the European project.