Poles – Europe − European Union: identity, images, and expectations

Abstract

The Eastern enlargement of the EU makes the national and European identities a topical issue. This paper addresses it with regard to the Polish national identity and how it is intertwined with the European identity of contemporary Poles. The paper is based on the comprehensive and very recent data collected within the framework of the international research project (Euronat, all findings available at <www.iue.it/RSC/Euronat>) that entails: the survey and the in-depth interview findings, as well as the analysis of the media and political party discourses. In the opening section of the paper attention has been paid to the concepts of `nation' and `identity', and Anthony Smith's theory of the two ways of nation development. Within this theoretical framework, and on the basis of the data, the national identity of contemporary Poles has been discussed, followed by an analysis of their European identity, and their images of Europe and the EU. The analysis has confirmed that: Poles have strong national and European identities constructed mainly with regard to ethno-cultural elements, while civic ones remain in the background. Poles also unhesitantly regard themselves as Europeans, and see Poland as belonging to Europe when they refer to the cultural, historical, and geographical dimentions. They, however, raise some doubts about the country's belonging to Europe when they take into account living standards and technological advancement. With regard to our integration with the EU structures a sober „Eurofatalistic” attitude seems to prevail.