Europäische Identifikation im Spannungsfeld regionaler und nationaler Identitäten. Theoretische Überlegungen und empirische Befunde

In contrast to the latest steps towards deeper integration of the European Union in structural terms, the development of an European identification seems to stagnate, whereas at the same time national identities persistently maintain their position and regional identities seem to gain more and more ground in some EU member states. Thus the idea of an “European Nation” has been replaced by other concepts as for example “Europe of Nations” or “Europe of Regions”. Also, the argument of a democratic dilemma of the EU has experienced new actuality. The article is interested in the relationships between regional, national and european identification. Three different heuristic models (concurrence-, concordance-, and sandwich-model) are discussed. Analyses on the basis of Eurobarometer-surveys show strong relationships of the identification to the situative context and to satisfaction with democracy. This is interpreted as a need for a less ambiguous EU-policy concerning the role of the nation and the EU and a need for a democratization of the EU, in order to develop a more stable and democratic European identity.