Slavtcheva-Petkova, Vera 
ORCID: 0000-0002-5576-4353 and Mihelj, Sabina
(2013)
Europe – a default or a dream? European identity formation among Bulgarian and English children
Ethnicities, 13 (5).
pp. 565-583.
ISSN 1468-7968, 1741-2706
Abstract
This article examines the formation of European identity among children in two very different countries: the traditionally Eurosceptic United Kingdom and the enthusiastic EU newcomer, Bulgaria. The paper revisits existing debates about the relationships between European identity, knowledge and the political and historical context, paying particular attention to the meanings attached to Europe. It demonstrates that children who identify as European are more likely to see Europe in geographic terms, which facilitates the perception of the European identity as ‘default’. In contrast, children who refuse to describe themselves as European see Europe as an exclusive political entity, associated with high standards and distant elites. These perceptions are significantly more common among Bulgarian children, who often depict Europe as a dream, and perceive the European identity as an ideal they aspire to reach. The article also shows how ethnicity and the images of Europe influence the relationship between national and European identities.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | 47 Language, Communication and Culture, 4408 Political Science, 44 Human Society, Pediatric Research Initiative |
| Depositing User: | Symplectic Admin |
| Date Deposited: | 18 Oct 2017 06:39 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jan 2026 09:56 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/1468796812465722 |
| Open Access URL: | http://hdl.handle.net/10034/552074 |
| Related Websites: | |
| URI: | https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3010327 |
| Disclaimer: | The University of Liverpool is not responsible for content contained on other websites from links within repository metadata. Please contact us if you notice anything that appears incorrect or inappropriate. |
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