Paper Series: On Belonging in Europe
This series constitutes our first exploration of different elements of belonging in Europe. Without pretending to be exhaustive, these essays bring together diverse voices that illuminate what othering and belonging mean—and how they manifest—within the European context. In both exploring dimensions of othering and practices of belonging in the region, these papers seek to expose the areas that most urgently demand our attention—where othering & marginalization are growing—as well as offer valuable insights from those already working towards belonging in Europe, with concrete learnings for those in North America and beyond.
Othering and Belonging in a Europe in crisis: narratives, identities, and the New-Old divide
Times appear to be changing as the European periphery seems to be leading the way to a social Europe, or at least strongly advocating for one; trying to make sure that policies are accompanied by belonging narratives that can deactivate the impulse to other. These policies and narratives should make clear that the Union may be in the making, but citizens from all Europe are in it together and the future of Europe depends on how much they feel they belong. For that, you also need the periphery (and its peripheries) to feel included and this is probably the next and most pressing challenge.