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Our European Identity | 120 comments (120 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)
Re: Our European Identity (4.00 / 2)
"In other words, European sentiment is already stronger than nationalistic sentiment within Spain." - Migeru

I think you misunderstand Migeru's language here Terry.  By Nationalistic sentiment he (and Spaniards) mean Basque, Catalan etc. which at 6.0% is lower than the 6.9% who feel primarily European.  

One of the benefits of the EU, is that it has reduced the relative importance of the nation state which in turn means that tensions within that nation state (Spain, Ireland/N. Ireland,) can be reduced, and previously suppressed identities (Basque, Catalan, Breton, Scot, Welch) can be expressed more freely.  I matters less now if Belgium breaks up because all the component "bits" will still be within the EU.

Is this a more general experience throughout Europe - e.g Eastern Europe?

Index of Frank's Diaries

by Frank Schnittger (mail Frankschnittger at hot male dotty communists) on Sun Dec 16th, 2007 at 07:54:59 AM EST
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Re: Our European Identity (none / 0)
Why would you want to reduce the importance of the member state?  Government that is close to the people has the most legitimacy.  I would imagine that Spaniards would rather have their laws come from Spaniards who live in the region than bureaucrats from some other country living in Brussels. Those that dont, probably just dont like how the system runs in Spain, do not have the political ability to change it there and probably want their compatriots in the EU to impose it.

In the US, the states have direct control over their own regions. The federal goverment, while supreme, looks over the nation.  

Terry

by Terry (Terry@pollackzuckerman.com) on Sun Dec 16th, 2007 at 12:16:08 PM EST
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Our European Identity | 120 comments (120 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)
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