Overview

Against the background of the changing global context, this book presents an analysis of three country members of the EU (France, Spain, and the United Kingdom) and the most significant social representations that are influencing the course of European integration. At the heart of the work is an analysis of the uneasy relation of the nation-state, its symbolism and the process of European integration. The text uses a sociological perspective to examine the issues of economic integration, enlargement, the question of national identity versus European identity, and sovereignty. This study proceeds in two distinct, but complementary directions. First it offers a top-down analysis of the discourse on the nation-state and the EU offered by political, labour union, and economic elites. Second it takes a bottom-up approach through the analysis of the general public's perception of the EU. By looking at the interweaving of culture, politics and economics the author provides an insightful portrait of the EU's complexity.

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9780313320347

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Reviews

The Cultural Realm of European Integration presents the culmination of Antonio Menendez-Alarcon's long-standing research on the European unification process. The book addresses popular attitudes toward the integrations of Europe in selected countries. . . . [M]enendez-Alarcon's study of popular perceptions of the idea and reality of Europe takes on considerable relevance. - American Journal of Sociology In a book filled with interesting detail, Menendez-Alarcon argues that, culturally and politically, Europeans remain primarily attached to the nation-state. Of the three peoples studied, he found that the British are the least European minded and the French, the most. But in no case is there much support for a federalism approaching that of the US. . . . Europeans, he shows quite dramatically, are ultimately attached to their nation-states. Highly recommended. General readers, and upper-division undergraduate collections and above. - Choice

The Cultural Realm of European Integration presents the culmination of Antonio Menendez-Alarcon's long-standing research on the European unification process. The book addresses popular attitudes toward the integrations of Europe in selected countries....[M]enendez-Alarcon's study of popular perceptions of the idea and reality of Europe takes on considerable relevance. -American Journal of Sociology

"""In a book filled with interesting detail, Menendez-Alarcon argues that, culturally and politically, Europeans remain primarily attached to the nation-state. Of the three peoples studied, he found that the British are the least European minded and the French, the most. But in no case is there much support for a federalism approaching that of the US. . . . Europeans, he shows quite dramatically, are ultimately attached to their nation-states. Highly recommended. General readers, and upper-division undergraduate collections and above."" - Choice ""The Cultural Realm of European Integration presents the culmination of Antonio Menendez-Alarcon's long-standing research on the European unification process. The book addresses popular attitudes toward the integrations of Europe in selected countries. . . . [M]enendez-Alarcon's study of popular perceptions of the idea and reality of Europe takes on considerable relevance."" - American Journal of Sociology"

Author Information

Antonio Menéndez-Alarcón is chair of the Department of Sociology and Director of the International Studies Program at Butler University, where he teaches courses on the European Union, Globalization, Culture, Ethnic Relations, and Social Movements. He received his PhD from the University of Notre Dame, Indiana. He has published several books and articles including Power and Television in Latin America (Praeger, 1992), which received the Choice Magazine 1994 outstanding academic book award.

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