Flaptekst

What are the ‘European values’ that we hear about so often? What are the links between European values and identity, belonging and citizenship? What is the role of memory politics? How do younger generations think about Europe and its values? Political scientist Heleen Touquet discusses these questions with fellow scholars and experts in the field of international politics, the politics of memory and polarization, and extremism. Her interlocutors are François Foret (Université Libre de Bruxelles), expert on religion and secularism in Europe, scholar of memory and critical theorist Peter Verovšek (University of Sheffield) and scholar on extremism and polarization Cynthia Miller Idriss (American University, Washington DC).

The conversations took place within the framework of a lecture series on European values, citizenship and belonging at the University of Antwerp in the spring of 2020, organized in collaboration with UCSIA.
This book is the first in the series '(Talking about) European values & belonging'. The rule of law, democracy, human rights and human dignity are the core values of the European Union. Current debates about these values however display the frailty of their very notion. Both advocates and adversaries of the European Union invoke these values and step forward as their true representatives, just as much as left-wing, right-wing and populist politicians. The (Talking about) European values & belonging series brings together experts and scholars to discuss and reflect on the questions raised by the controversial issue of European values.