The Connotations And Historical Evolution Of The Idea Of Europe

The Idea of Europe indicates the Europeans' consciousness of the real and imagined characters of Europe as a geographical region and a cultural area. In a certain sense, it might be said that the perception of the cultural spirits and destination of one region may influence the direction of that society's evolution. The Idea of Europe, to some extent, is such a cultural idea which contributed to the movement of the European integration in the later half of the 20th Century. The thesis aims to offer a tentative exploration of the connotations of the Idea of Europe and its historical evolution. It argues that a good understanding of the Idea of Europe would give us an insight into the present and future development of Europe.The dissertation begins by tracing the genesis of the Idea of Europe in the ancient world. The preliminary evolutoin of the concept "Europe" from a term in mythology, and a geographical concept to a word connotating to a certain cultural consciousness was examined. The Middle Ages marked an important stage in the development of the Idea of Europe. The thesis discusses the unifying effect of Christianity with respect to Europe's belief system. The institution of overarching imperial power also gave Europe an imagined political unity. The confrontations between Europe and the outside world, especially represented by the Islamic world and the Byzantine Empire helped Europe to define itself and to reflect on its unique cultural attributes.The early modern times saw the expansion of the political connotation of the Idea of Europe. The pursuit of the unity of Europe embodied by the suggestions of the plans to make Europe an alliance of sovereign states, the creation of the union of states according to the principle of the Balance of Power and the European confederation for the aim of maintaining perpetual peace. The global expasion of Europe induced the Europeans to formulate a conception of Europe's civilizational superiority over other societies. The Idea of Europa began to take a culturalogical connotion. The French Revolution further pushed the discoursive horizon of the Idea of Europe. The discussions of European unification by conservatists, liberalists and nationalists then constitued a philosophical heritage for the discourse later. The early 20th century witnessed the rise of nationalism in Europe. Yet, efforts to creat a peaceful and unified Europe were not ceased. Coudenhove-Kalergi's pan-Europe movement and Brian's idea of European Union had an influence on the European Integration movement after the World War II.The thesis concludes that the exploration of the connotations of the Idea of Europe has a real significance for Europe's current development. The search for the meaning of a "new Europe" is of vital importance for Europe's further integration.