CRONEM, Guildford 12.–13. June 2007
Is European Nationalism failing because of a
lack of myths?
A time series analysis of public communication
in Europe from 1951 to 2005
Dr. David Tréfás
Europainstitut der Universität Basel
fög – Forschungsbereich Öffentlichkeit und
Gesellschaft der Universität Zürich
in cooperation with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for
European History and Public Spheres
Content
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Theory of political myth
The project „European identity and public spheres“
We-References to Europe in public communication
Main values in France, Germany and Hungary
Temporal references in France, Germany and Hungary
Relation of Values to Temporal References
European myths in France, Germany and Hungary
Conclusion
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Theory of political myth
 Any ideologically marked political story has the potential to become a
myth if narrated by an appropriate teller to an appropriate audience in
appropriate circumstances.
 “Mythmaking is a communication process which […] will carry
authority when it is communicated in an appropriate way, by an
appropriate teller or set of tellers, in an appropriate historical, social,
and ideological context.” (Flood 1996: 43f)
 Only temporal references in combination with values are potentially
mythified.
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The project: „European identity and public spheres“:
Arenatheoretical Model of Public Sphere
 If communication events create resonance in different arenas of the
public sphere, then these are society-relevant and refer to
constellations of conflict and crisis events
 These concepts (and constructions of a shared belief) can only be
collectively communicated and inter-subjectified in the public sphere
>>> in modern societies only through mass-communication
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Arenatheoretical Model of Public Sphere
Ferree, Gamson, Gerhards, Rucht (2002): Shaping abortion
discourse. p. 11.
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Point of departure
 Identity or „Gemeinsamkeitsglauben“ (shared belief/Max Weber) can
only be built by communication in the public sphere
 So far the (principle of the) public sphere has been closely linked to
the nationstate
 With regards to the EU, there are
- a public sphere deficit
- a democracy deficit
- an identity deficit
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Methodological Concept and Empirical Approach
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The emergence of public sphere(s) and collective identities are
closely linked and are conditional on one another
>>> identity of the modern age is generated in public communication
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Empirical Conclusion: Time-series analysis of conflict-induced
concentration of communication
 Based on the analysis of perception of threat
 Based on a distinction of the “we” and the “others”
 Based on the analysis of temporal references
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Countries and Media
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Key Events in Public Communication
Communication on crisis-events
Communication on institutional
events
1950ies
Suez crisis, Hungarian Uprising (56)
Sputnik shock (57)
Foundation of ECSC (51)
Foundation of EEC (57)
1960ies
Berlin Wall (61)
Cuba crisis (62)
Prague Spring (68)
1970ies
Kippour War (73)
UK joins the EC (73)
1980ies
War in the Gulf I (Iran/Iraq) (80)
Falkland War (82)
Single European Act (85)
1990ies
War in the Gulf II (90/91)
War in Bosnia (94)
War in Kosovo (98)
Treaty of Maastricht (92)
European Council in Nizza (00)
2000
War in the Gulf III (03)
Enlargement of the EU (04)
Crisis of Ratification of the
Constitutional Treaty (05)
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We-References to Europe in public communication
n=719
10
Top 5 values, arena France 2005
16
14
12
F:EU-Integration
Most mentioned values Willingness to
EU-integration
10
F:Liberty
Most mentioned values Freedom
8
.
F: Most mentioned values Wealth
Wealth
6
F:Democracy
Most mentioned values Democracy
4
Law
F:Rule
Mostofmentioned
values Rule of Law
2
0
1
n=69
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Top 5 values, arena Germany 2005
16
14
12
10
SocialMost
Justice
FRG:
mentioned values Social Justice
Democracy
FRG:
Most mentioned values Democracy
8
Wealth
FRG:
Most mentioned values Wealth
6
FRG:
Most mentioned values Progress
Progress
FRG:
Most mentioned values Peaceableness
Peaceableness
4
2
0
1
n=68
12
Top 5 values, arena Hungary 2005
8
7
6
5
H: Freedom
4
H: Democracy
H: Wealth
3
H: Pluralism
2
1
0
1
n=24
13
Top 3 temporal references 2005
France
Germany
Hungary
Nr. 1
1992: Maastricht (17%) 2000: Nizza (21%)
Undefined Future (47%)
Nr. 2
2000: Nizza (11%)
1992: Maastricht
(11%)
Undefined Past (11%)
Nr. 3
1957: Foundation EEC
(10%)
1989: Fall of Iron
Curtain (11%)
Communism (10%)
n=70
n=28
n=19
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Relation of Values to Temporal References
France
Germany
Hungary
Nr. 1
EU-Integration/Nizza
Democracy/Nizza
Democracy/
Undefined future
Nr. 2
EU-Integration/
Maastricht
Democracy/
Maastricht
Nr. 3
Freedom/Nizza
Wealth/Nizza
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European myth in the French arena
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Myth about Europe is the myth about France.
France as motor of integration in the name of human rights and liberty.
France has achieved the Treaty of Rome, Maastricht and Nizza.
Europe as a fortress against British pessimism and Turkey
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European myth in the German arena
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The myth about Europe is a myth about democracy.
The European elite in Brussels in fear of the people of Europe.
The Maastricht Treaty has brought democracy.
Parallels to the German myth about learning of democracy in the
Adenauer era.
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European myth in the Hungarian arena
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Myth of Europe is a myth about new colonialism.
Europe lacks democracy and will lack democracy in the future.
For the liberal media, remedy will come from the European peoples.
The conservative media compare the EU to Soviet communism and
detects a hostility towards the nationstate (as an alternative in the
future).
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Conclusion
 There is no pan-European myth to observe
 In every nationstate, myths are structured by specific national
narratives
 Divergent values as the centre of myths in every nationstate
 Convergence of temporal references in Germany and France. Is there
a potential for a pool for mythification in times of crisis?
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Thank you for your attention!
Contact:
Dr. David Tréfás
fög - Forschungsbereich Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft
Universität Zürich
Andreasstrasse 15
8050 Zürich
Tel.: +41 (0)44 635 21 22
Fax.: +41 (0)44 635 21 01
mail: david.trefas@foeg.unizh.ch
Web.: www.foeg.unizh.ch
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