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Inaugural Debate, Karsten ALNÆS, Norwegian writer and historian on ‘Roots of European identity – Challenges and threats’
Inaugural debate
'Europe is not dying; the dream is not fading. The invisible pact between people in Europe does not depend on material progress, welfare, and prosperity. Nor does it depend on the creation of a political unity. The identity will survive disagreements between politicians and people within Europe. It will endure even if the common currency is abandoned. The most important condition for the dream of Europe is the absence of war. '
Karsten Alnaes, Norwegian writer and historian - Council of Europe Debate on European Identity, March 2013
Karsten Alnaes, author of 'History of Europe' presented the history of Europe, how the concept of Europe evolved. He sees the connection between the concept of identity and the concept of belonging. This community, this sense of identity, this sense of belonging, he argues, is something intrinsic to the human spirit.
For Alnaes, Europe’s identity is something invented. It is a product of the mind, an abstraction. In his view commitment to human rights is the most vital and valuable hallmark of European identity.
Council of Europe Schools of Political Studies sponsored Lab 9 (Training Tomorrow’s Democratic Leaders: How to Make a Difference) of 5th World Forum for Democracy (Strasbourg, 7 - 9 November)
Biography of Karsten Alnaes
Audio recording of Interview for the Council of Europe website
