Europe as a nation? Intellectuals and debate on Europe in the inter-war period
Paola Cattani
In 1933, a number of European intellectuals among whom Paul Valéry, Johan Huizinga, Julien Benda, Hermann von Keyserling, met in Madrid and Paris to discuss the identity history Europe under initiative International Institute Intellectual Cooperation League Nations. During symposia, participants try define common narrative beyond national differences, some them evoke idea ‘homeland’ or ‘nation’, as already advocated those years by Gaston Riou (Europe ma patrie, 1928) Benda (Discours à la nation européenne, 1933). Salvador de Madariaga for example calls ‘European nationalism’; Georges Duhamel presents ‘Mother Europe’ an opposing force growing patriotism; Julio Dantas hopes ‘européenité’ opposed individual ‘national’ feelings. What is reason insisting so repeatedly on concepts, when trying overcome dangers nationalism? This paper analyses different formulations adopted symposiums describe their ‘nation/homeland’, tries identify specific aspects historical implications these concepts.
History of European Ideas