After many years of relative stability in Europe and continuous growth in the number of European Union member states, we are now observing various phenomena that have altered the reality of our continent. Firstly, the recent Jihadist terrorist attacks have raised serious problems with regards to security and intercultural coexistence. Furthermore, the Brexit announcement gives, for the first time, a clear message that regression in Europe is possible and will partly deprive the Union of the richness of the British culture. And lastly, the refugee crisis in Europe has been a major blow to our collective conscience and put into question the validity of the values on which the European Union is based.
This landscape calls for urgent reflection on whether such a thing as a European identity really exists and on the consequences the answers to this question may hold. To do this, we aim to organise a conference capable of triggering open, courageous debate from a philosophical, historical and legal perspective. The conference will take place on 8 March 2018.
This activity is organised by the Charlemagne Institute for European Studies and the Faculty of Law at the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya and is associated with the University research group's line of research: the critical issues of contemporary international society.
In particular, we will seek to elaborate on, inter alia, the following questions:
What is the meaning of the term "identity"?
What is Europe? Which are its geographic boundaries? Can we speak about a real European history or is it the sum of the history of the States and peoples that make up Europe?
Can we speak about a real European identity?
How has the European identity influenced the main legal texts that have built European cooperation and integration?
What role have human rights played in shaping the European identity?
Can we demand that non-Europeans in our territory respect the European identity?
How do economic aspects affect the balance of the elements integral to the European identity?
The conference is open to members of the university community, both academics and students. We also welcome any legal or human and social science professionals who work or have a special interest in these issues, which are of such critical importance for the present and future of our European societies.
Conference Fact Sheet
Director
Dr Carlos Espaliú Berdud
Organising Committee
Dr. Xavier Fernandez Pons (Universidad de Barcelona), Dr. Humberto Gosálbez Pequeño (Universidad de Córdoba), Dr. Xavier Escribano López (Universidad Internacional de Catalunya), Dr. Carlos Espaliú Berdud (Universidad Internacional de Catalunya), Dr. Fernández Sánchez Marcos (Universidad de Barcelona), Dr. Edward Cavanagh (University of Cambridge)
Scientific Committee
Dr Xavier Fernandez Pons, Dr Humberto Gosálbez Pequeño, Dr Xavier Escribano López, Dr Carlos Espaliú Berdud
Rules for presenting papers
You must submit the abstract of the papers by November 24, 2017