Europe from the Bottom Up: Town Twinning in France during the Cold War
Antoine Vion
Town twinning can be seen as the first activity to involve municipal institutions such in wide-ranging and long-term international action. Twinning fits Eric Hobsbawm's definition of an ‘invented tradition’. The French federalists played a decisive part this process invention, bringing European municipalities together order ensure eventual political union. Before long, however, so-called bilingualist movement also turned way further universal mutual understanding that transcended East–West divide. This resulted big clash between organisations. Thus, invention town needs studied alongside dynamic tensions emerged on scene during Cold War
Contemporary European History