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Comparing European Identities in Germany, Ireland and Poland

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The Euro Crisis and European Identities

Part of the book series: New Perspectives in German Political Studies ((NPG))

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Abstract

This chapter sets the stage for a study which offers rich empirical data on the early stages of the Euro crisis. It reviews the existing literature on the different and competing facets of elite and media discourses on European identity in Germany, Poland, and Ireland before the crisis and explains and justifies the choice of case studies. It also outlines the materials chosen for analysis–political speeches and press releases and broadsheet and tabloid newspaper articles, the time periods chosen–the first Greek bailout, Ireland’s bailout and the agreement of the Fiscal Compact–alongside the qualitative method of frame analysis.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Latvia joined the single currency on 1 January 2014 and Lithuania joined on 1 January 2015, bringing the number of Eurozone member states to 19.

  2. 2.

    The Economist also points out that there is no homogeneity even amongst this ‘out’ group, arguing that ‘Britain’s prime aim is to avoid entanglement with the euro zone, but Poland’s is to avoid exclusion. Britain is calling the lawyers to set the terms for divorce […] Poland wants to be included in all discussions, and to avoid new obstacles to joining the monetary union’ (2011). There are, therefore, those members who are intent on remaining outside of the Eurozone and those members seeking eventual Euro membership.

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  1. Media, Cognition and Communication, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Charlotte Galpin

  2. Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

    Charlotte Galpin

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Galpin, C. (2017). Comparing European Identities in Germany, Ireland and Poland. In: The Euro Crisis and European Identities. New Perspectives in German Political Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51611-0_3

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