Europe without Borders: Questioning the Idea of a Common European Identity

  • Loreta Georgievska-Jakovleva Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the effectiveness of the matrices of a common European identity in the European Union acts that promote this idea. This paper sets out the thesis that practical implementation of what is meant by the motto “Europe without borders†encounters at least two serious obstacles: the first related to the tendency of externalizing the violence and to see beyond the boundaries of the European Union, for example in the Balkans as another Europe, and the second is related to the asymmetry of the memory of Europe.Direct consequence of this situation is the sense of not belonging, marginalization and segregation of Europe. This thesis is examined by interpreting the implications of this sense in the process of creating cultural products in Macedonia. The ability to complete the project “Europe without borders†is considered in terms of participation of national identity and culture, seen through the analysis of artistic body of work by Milcho Manchevski (movies “Before the Rain†and “Dustâ€) and the literary opus by Tashko Georgievski (novels “Black Seed†and “Flat Landâ€). The phenomenon of outsourcing the violence which refers to the subject-object relationship in culture and the phenomenon of asymmetry memory is also examined. In conclusion, it`s suggested that if Europe desires to realize allied, shared European identity, Europe must propose advanced matrixes for that reason. In this context, every political decision must include ethical consideration.

Author Biography

Loreta Georgievska-Jakovleva, Sts. Cyril and Methodius University, Skopje, Macedonia
<div class="toggle  close"><h3 class="toggle-head-open" style="display: block;">Professor Dr. Loreta Georgievska-Jakovleva</h3><div class="toggle-content" style="display: block;">Currently works as a Full-time Professor at The Institute for Macedonian Literature (Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje). Her specific areas of research interest include: Cultural Studies, Macedonian and Comparative Literature, Theory of Literature, Media and Gender Studies. Her teaching focus at the Graduate Program in Cultural Studies is centered on the following subjects (or courses): Introduction to Cultural Studies, Imagology, Gender and Culture, Globalization and Culture, and Academic Writing. She also teaches Macedonian Language, and The Basics of Proof-Reading and Writing at the State University of Tetovo. Her publications include: An Open Circle (The Poetics of the Novels of Tashko Georgievski, 1997), A Mirror of the Discourse (2000), The Fantastic and the Macedonian Novel (2001), Allegory, the Grotesque and the Macedonian Novel (2002), Literature and Transition (2008). Textbooks: Reformed High School Education: Macedonian Language and Literature for the 4th Year Student (co-author), (2004), Comparative Literature (for the 4th Year of the Reformed High School Education as an Elective Subject) (co-author), Skopje: (2004). She helms several national and international projects, currently including: COST project, IS0703, The European Research Network on Learning to Write Effectively (ERN-LWE) (2009-2012), Literacy Development in the Humanities (LIDHUM), University of Zurich (Switzerland) (2011-2013), COST project IS1007, Investigating Cultural Sustainability (2011-2014), and the Macedonian Historical Novel (Institute for Macedonian Literature). She is a member of the following professional associations: The Association of Comparative Literature of Macedonia and The Macedonian Writers’ Association. Her social and professional functions include: Director of the Institute for Macedonian Literature (2005-2011), Member of the Rector Board of Ss. Cyril and Methodius University-Skopje (2004-2009), Member of the Council of the International Seminar of Macedonian Language, Literature and Culture (2004-2011), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Spectrum (Volumes 47 and 48), Editor-in-Chief of the Journal Culture, President of the Council of the Institute for Macedonian Literature (2002-2004).</div></div>

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Култура/Culture No 3 (2012)
How to Cite
GEORGIEVSKA-JAKOVLEVA, Loreta. Europe without Borders: Questioning the Idea of a Common European Identity. Култура/Culture, [S.l.], n. 3, p. 33-55, sep. 2014. ISSN 1857-7725. Available at: <http://journals.cultcenter.net/index.php/culture/article/view/99>. Date accessed: 27 feb. 2026.
Citation Formats
Issue
No 3 (2012): Култура / Culture
Section
English Articles

Keywords

European identity, national identity, еxternalization of violence, asymmetry of memory, film, novel, Milcho Manchevski, Tashko Georgievski
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Култура/Culture by MI-AN is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.