Michel MAFFESOLI
Executive summary: The etymology of the term “Europe” is uncertain and subject to debate, between Greek, Semitic, Indo-European or Phoenician tracks, in the image of the uncertainty of borders and the plurality of languages and mythologies at the origin of Europe. Unlike the nations and continental empires that have built themselves on common homogeneity, Europe has always considered itself a mixture of civilizations. This diversity is both a force and a source of tension, as it involves a contradictory structuring of the collective unconscious. Europe has invented the explanatory and utilitarian thought that is the basis of modernity but this ideology has also led to the devalorization of myths, beliefs and previous ideals. The gap between this modern and contemporary utilitarianism explains the will of many European peoples. The European identity cannot be exclusive, and throughout history attempts to unify or reduce to one by violence have been able to curb popular pluralism. It is possible to imagine a post – modern Europe, rematch of values of the South, decentralized, to horizontal rather than vertical subsidiarity and tolerant of the harmony of opposites, in this much closer to the ideal of the medieval Church, the present period being marked by the return in force of the Community ideal. A federation based on these principles would be the only form capable of generating enthusiasm and a sense of belonging, and it would have to be built slowly and smoothly.
Keywords: Europe, European Union, Nation-State, Empire, Unity, Concentration, Diversity, Democracy, Republic, Modernity, Rationalism, Individualism, Utilitarianism, Progress, Supranational, Civilization, Postmodernity, Peoples, Collective unconscious, Community ideal, Decentralization, Feeling of belonging, Horizontal subsidiarity, Holy Roman Empire, Values of the South, Federation.
Abstract: The etymology of the term “Europe” is uncertain and subject to debate, ranging from Greek, Semitic, Indo-European, or Phoenician sources, reflecting the uncertainty of borders and the plurality of languages and mythologies at the origin of Europe. Unlike nation-states and continental empires that were built on a common homogeneity, Europe has always considered itself a mixture of civilizations. This diversity is both a strength and a source of tension, as it implies a contradictory structuring of the collective unconscious. Europe invented the explanatory and utilitarian thought that is the basis of modernity, but this ideology has also led to the devaluation of previous myths, beliefs, and ideals. The gap between this modern utilitarianism and the contemporary imagination explains the desire for exit among many European peoples. European identity cannot be exclusive, and throughout history, attempts at unification or reduction to the One by violence have not been able to curb popular pluralism. It is possible to imagine a postmodern Europe, a revenge for the values of the South, decentralized and with horizontal rather than vertical subsidiarity, and tolerating the harmony of opposites, much closer to the ideal of the medieval Church, the current period being marked by the strong return of the community ideal. A federation based on these principles would be the only form capable of arousing enthusiasm and a sense of belonging among the populations; it will have to be built slowly and not without conflict.
Keywords: Europe, European Union, Nation-State, Empire, Uniqueness, Concentration, Diversity, Democracy, Republic, Modernity, Rationalism, Individualism, Utilitarianism, Progress, Supranational, Civilization, Postmodernity, Peoples, Collective Unconscious, Community Ideal, Decentralization, Sense of Belonging, Horizontal Subsidiarity, Holy Roman Empire, Southern Values, Federation.
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