What are the common points and contrasts between national identity and European identity

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The national identity and the European identity - National identity is well-established and no one would try to challenge it; the European identity is still a theoritical concept which the European institutions are still working on. According to Shore, ?national identity derives from a deep-rooted sense of ethnic community whereas European identity appears as a relatively superficial and ineffectual force: a utopian dream of intellectuals and idealists with little chance of mobilizing mass consciouness'

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[...] Unlike most nation-states, what the EU lacks is a common culture around which Europeans can unite. Moreover, those cultural elements which can give unity and coherence to existing national identity (such as shared language, history, memory, religion) tend to divide rather than unite fellow Europeans. Despite the massive transfer of regulatory and decision-making powers from the nation-states to the EU, there has been no corresponding shift in popular sentiment or political loyalty. The main obstacle to a strong European identity is that Europe has been built upon a ‘dirigiste' approach, i.e. [...]

[...] Conclusion The divergences between European and national identities seem important. The gap existing between both looks as impossible to fill, but it must not be forgotten that nations, though undeniable as a concept, don't exist for milleniums. The nation is a construction, something acquired throughout history. On a scale of time, it is a relatively recent invention. Europe is also a construction, much more recent and therefore not so well grounded. But as time goes on, in decades or centuries, it is conceivable to forecast that European identity will take the same path as national identity, as it already started. [...]

[...] Examine points of comparison and contrast between a national identity and a European identity. Introduction The national identity and the European identity. National identity is well-established and no one would try to challenge it; the European identity is still a theoritical concept that European institutions try to settle. As Shore defines them, ‘national identity derives from a deep-rooted sense of ethnic community whereas European identity appears as a relatively superficial and ineffectual force: a utopian dream of intellectuals and idealists with little chance of mobilising mass consciouness'. [...]

[...] The community tried to copy the national symbols by transforming them into Europeans ones. Hence, they created the european flag, a cirlce of twelve golden stars on a blue background, an anthem, the Beethoven's to Joy', and a European day, the 9th of May celebrating the memory of Jean Monnet, one of the fathers of modern Europe. If they managed to do so, though without replacing the national symbols, it is impossible yet to have a European team competing in the Olympic Games or to have European diplomats abroad representing all Europe instead of each country. [...]

[...] So from that point of view, it is impossible to ‘create' an identity, and hence a European identity cannot be made up. The other theory is the constructivist one. As its name mentioned, constructivists believe that an identity can be built throughout years; maybe not all life but during the childhood years, it is possible to shape an identity. This will depend on the environment where a person will grow up in, the nationality of his/her parents, in which country he/she will spend his/her childhood. [...]