LECTURE 3

   

   SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM, ESSENTIALISM AND A EUROPEAN UNION IDENTITY

   

   

   -      2 perspectives about the way in which identity is produced

   are :

   

   1)  ESSENTIALIST

   

   2)  CONSTRUCTIVIST

   

   

   1)   ESSENTIALISM

   

   -      is an approach that believes in and looks for the `essence', or `true core', of
   objects, values, identities and cultures

   

   - there are essential core values and beliefs, essential cultural characteristics, and
   essential aspects of a way of life that make Czechs identify themselves as Czechs

   - that make British people identify themselves as British

   - or French as French, etc.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   LECTURE 3

   

   SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM, ESSENTIALISM AND A EUROPEAN UNION IDENTITY

   

   

   2)   CONSTRUCTIVISM

   

   -      for Constructivists identities should not be seen as `fixed' or static but instead they
   should be understood as a process of `becoming' within which they are continually mediated and
   influenced by other factors, built up -- for example, socially -- or constructed. 

   

   -      for Constructivists identity is fluid, often changing, and is shaped by social factors
   such as language, institutions and different types of power.

   

   - for Constructivists identity can be, and constantly is, CONSTRUCTED

                  - and RECONSTRUCTED

   

   - usually what most influences and shapes these changes in identity, and identity itself, for
   Constructivists are social factors and social elements

   - identity is primarily `socially constructed'

   

   - `constructivists' repeatedly insist that constructivism is NOT A THEORY at all,

   - but rather they insist it is an

   ANALYTICAL FRAMEWORK

   

   LECTURE 3

   

   SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM, ESSENTIALISM AND A EUROPEAN UNION IDENTITY

   

   - The remainder of the lecture will therefore:

   - firstly, look a little more at Constructivism -- as a framework for analysing just how
   identity develops

   

   - and finally, try and relate such a framework to the possible future construction of a
   European Union identity within EU citizens

   - assess how useful it might be in that process

   

   -  So, CONSTRUCTIVISM

   

   - For constructivists, social interaction within social and political units (usually States)
   gives us our identity and in turn our `interests' (our own way of living)

   

   - the society (and State) in which we live constructs our identity

   - our identity as knowledgeable social and political citizens of that society

   

   - the way the society (and State) in which we live constructs our identity is through rituals,
   symbols, norms and rules

   

   - Our identity as citizens is `constructed' every day by the social determinants of our
   actions

   LECTURE 3

   

   SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIVISM, ESSENTIALISM AND A EUROPEAN UNION IDENTITY

   

   - for Constructivists SOCIAL DETERMINANTS are a key element in producing, shaping, and
   determining identity

   

   - Constructivism is based upon the concept of IDEATIONAL SOCIALISATION

   

   -        Constructivism holds that people make society, and that society makes people

   - it is an interactive, in many ways circular process

   - a continuous, two way process

   

   - what links the two things together -- the two processes together -- are rules, norms and
   values

   - they (social rules) condition the process by which society makes people and by which people
   make society

   

   -        constructivists argue that:

   -  ideas (ideology?) shape institutions

   -       those (structural) institutions in turn promote rules, values, beliefs, norms and
   practices which produce collective `identity' (way of life citizens identify with)

   -       so, `ideas' about `identity' matter -- they have structural characteristics through
   State and societal institutions - and those `ideas' interact with the individual citizen's
   social material experiences (IDEATIONAL SOCIALISATION)