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1. CRONEM, Guildford 12.–13. June 2007Is European Nationalism failing because of a lack of myths?A time series analysis of public communication in Europe from 1951 to 2005Dr. David TréfásEuropainstitut der Universität Baselfög – Forschungsbereich Öffentlichkeit und Gesellschaft der Universität Zürichin cooperation with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for European History and Public Spheres

2. Content • 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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. Arenatheoretical Model of Public Sphere Ferree, Gamson, Gerhards, Rucht (2002): Shaping abortion discourse. p. 11.

6. 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

7. Methodological Concept and Empirical Approach • 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 • 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

8. Countries and Media

9. Key Events in Public Communication

10. We-References to Europe in public communication n=719

11. Top 5 values, arena France 2005 EU-Integration Liberty . Wealth Democracy Rule of Law n=69

12. Top 5 values, arena Germany 2005 Social Justice Democracy Wealth Progress Peaceableness n=68

13. Top 5 values, arena Hungary 2005 n=24

14. Top 3 temporal references 2005 n=28 n=19 n=70

15. Relation of Values to Temporal References

16. European myth in the French arena • 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

17. European myth in the German arena • 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.

18. European myth in the Hungarian arena • 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).

19. 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?

20. 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