National, Post-National and European Identities in Germany

Table of Contents

I. Introduction: Nation, State, Nationalism, and Identity

I.1 Why Study (German) Post-National Identities?

I.2 State of the Art

II. Theoretical Framework

II.1 Guiding Theoretical and Empirical Conceptions

II.2 Operationalization

III. Method of Analysis

III.1 Interview Technique

III.2 Group Formation

III.3 Interview Surroundings

III.4 Structure of the Interview

III.5 Problems

IV. The Findings - German Post-National Identities

IV.1 Perception of World War II and Awareness of EU-Citizenship

IV.2 How is the EU Pictured?

IV.3 The Emergence of a Constitutional Patriotism

IV.3.1 Cultural Values

IV.3.2 Democratic Values

IV.4 Priority of the Nation

IV.4.1 The EU as ‘Substitute Love’? – Attachment to the EU in Contrast to Germany

IV.4.2 Who may have Decision-Making Power?

V. Conclusion of the First Results

VI. A European Collective Identity

VI.1 We-Feeling

VI.2 What is the EU and what is it not? – In-Groups and Out-Groups

VI.3 A Common Memory

VII. Conclusion

VIII. Bibliography

Annex – The Interviews

Interviews with the Young

Interviews with the Elders

Research Objectives and Themes

This thesis investigates whether the historical experience of World War II and subsequent socio-political developments in Germany have fostered a post-national, European identity, or if they have instead reinforced nationalist and protectionist attitudes among different generations of German citizens.

• Analysis of identity construction in World War II survivors compared to younger generations.
• Examination of the role of political institutions in shaping European collective identity.
• Assessment of the perception of European integration versus national sovereignty.
• Exploration of democratic values, "constitutional patriotism," and the concept of "substitute love" for Europe.
• Qualitative interview-based research on political self-identification and attitudes toward the EU.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

I. Introduction: Nation, State, Nationalism, and Identity: This chapter contextualizes the study within the broader framework of globalization and fading state sovereignty, introducing the central research questions regarding German identity.

II. Theoretical Framework: This section establishes the deductive approach, utilizing new institutionalism and constructivism to model how institutions shape individual and collective social identities.

III. Method of Analysis: This chapter details the qualitative research design, focusing on focused individual interviews with two distinct age groups to capture diverse perspectives on identity.

IV. The Findings - German Post-National Identities: The findings present a comparative analysis of how different generations perceive WWII, their citizenship in the EU, and their willingness to cede national sovereignty.

V. Conclusion of the First Results: This chapter evaluates the empirical findings against the initial hypotheses, concluding that a post-national identity is indeed developing but manifests differently across age groups.

VI. A European Collective Identity: This section investigates the emergence of a collective "we-feeling," analyzing in-groups, out-groups, and the potential for a shared European memory.

VII. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the research, reflecting on the profound structural change in German identity and the legitimacy of German political influence in the European context.

Keywords

Post-national identity, European Union, Nationalism, State sovereignty, Germany, World War II, Constitutional patriotism, Qualitative research, Collective identity, Social identity, European integration, Political culture, Citizenship, New institutionalism, Constructivism.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental aim of this work?

The thesis aims to analyze whether German citizens have developed a post-national, European identity in the wake of World War II and European integration, specifically testing differences between WWII survivors and younger generations.

What are the core thematic fields of this research?

The research covers nationhood, state sovereignty, nationalism, European integration, the impact of historical trauma (WWII), and the formation of social and collective identities.

What is the primary research question?

It asks whether the historical experience of World War II facilitated the construction of a post-national, European identity in Germany, or whether post-war circumstances instead helped maintain nationalist tendencies.

Which scientific methods were employed?

The author uses a qualitative approach, conducting focused individual interviews with ten participants split into two age cohorts, analyzed through the lens of constructivist theory and new institutionalism.

What is discussed in the main body of the thesis?

The main body examines perceptions of the EU, the salience of democratic values, the concept of "substitute love," and the willingness to grant decision-making authority to the European level.

Which keywords best characterize this work?

Post-national identity, European Union, state sovereignty, national identity, constitutional patriotism, and collective identity.

How do the age groups differ in their perception of the EU?

The research finds that while the elder generation views the EU primarily through the lens of peace and reputation-recovery after WWII, the younger generation sees the EU as a contemporary political reality and a platform for active, influential cooperation.

What is the significance of the "marble cake model" in this study?

It refers to a form of identity where different layers—local, national, and European—are intertwined, suggesting that German identity is no longer neatly separated by hierarchical importance, especially for the younger generation.