The Discourse on a United Europe and the Problem of Normalizing German History

Abstract

Introduction: The paper deals with the critical analysis of the discourse on a united Europe and the role of the normalization of German history as a particular justification for its implementation. It is noted that the beginning of the third decade of the 21st century was marked by the crisis of European identity, which forced politicians to once again address the theses about the unity of Europe. In this regard, the research question is being formed: is it possible to talk about the real unity of Europe, as it is represented by European politicians in their public speeches? Materials and Methods: Using a historical and discursive approach, the author attempts to consider the solution of the German question, since the example of Germany is the most representative due to the fact that it is one of the most significant participants in European integration associations. Research Results and Discussion: As a result of the conducted research, the following characteristic of the declared discourse on European unity is revealed: the normalization of German history in the discourse on European unity masks Germany’s “special path”, representing it as a typical development case. Conclusions: It is concluded that the normalization of German history within the framework of the discourse on European unity is nothing more than a political pamphlet necessary to link the European states based on the myth of the historical community of their nations. At the same time, it is emphasized that further work on deconstructing the myth of European unity seems very promising for distinguishing the spheres of historical science and political activity.