Abstract
This chapter argues that the various constructions of the crisis reflect existing European and national identities because of the legitimation strategies of different national actors. Contradicting the notion that identities change dramatically during ‘critical junctures’, it argues that the Euro crisis has resulted in limited changes to European identity discourses because political and media actors draw on existing identities and ideas in order to make sense of the crisis. It then outlines the variety of domestic constraints that limit the possibility of change, including national historical narratives, economic ideas and interests and the pressures of party politics. Finally, it comments on the role of identities in the broader resilience of ideas about the economy as well as the continued survival of the single currency.
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Galpin, C. (2017). Identity Continuity: Actors, Institutions and Interests. In: The Euro Crisis and European Identities. New Perspectives in German Political Studies. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51611-0_7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51611-0_7
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