What is Europe?

The European Union (EU), formed out of the ashes of the Second World War, continues to expand in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Despite the EU's growing size and significance, the question 'What is Europe?' still resonates through the continent. This free course looks at a range of different views on the question, contrasting different conceptions of Europeanness and outlining competing visions for the future of the EU.

• Introduction
• Learning outcomes
• What is Europe?
• 1 Europe in the twenty-first century
• 2 Defining Europe
• Preamble
• 2.1 Europe as a geographical area
• 2.2 Europe as a sequence of ideas
• 2.2 Europe as a sequence of ideas (continued)
• 2.2 Europe as a sequence of ideas (continued)
• 2.3 Europe as a ‘non-other’
• 3 Europe as a project
• Europe as a project (continued)
• 4 Debates on the development of Europe
• Debates on the development of Europe (continued)
• 5 Themes in European development
• 5.1 Unity and diversity
• 5.2 Conflict and consensus
• 5.3 Tradition and transformation
• 5.4 Inclusion and exclusion
• 6 Conclusion
• References
• Acknowledgements