The Definitions of Europe

What is Europe?

Europe is a transcontinental community that is united by its shared ancestry and frequent cultural contact as a result of historical trade, which has created a set of common ideals across the various nations that make up the continent today. Historically, the biggest unifier of these various ethnicities and cultures was the rise of Christianity and the long-lasting power and influence of the church. This institution and its expansive power helped set a standard of common values and ideas and facilitated a common identity. Today its main unifier is financial, and its cooperation is maintained as result of the integration of various economies. There are many other qualities that Europe would prefer to define itself by such as its champion of liberal democracies, regard for human rights, or its role in peacekeeping but it is first and foremost held together by the interconnectedness of its economics. Another important definition of Europe is based on geography. Glencross points out that while the EU generally defines the borders of Europe by its 28 members, other organizations such as the Council of Europe define it differently and include nations which are not necessarily within the traditional border (2014). The traditional European identity is therefore based on the characteristics of EU member nations despite the fact that many countries who are within the continent’s borders are not members. Seemingly, using borders and geography to describe Europe is not the most effective definition. The political definition of Europe is based on the fact that all EU members are liberal democracies who balance each other out to make sure that no member nation is ever more powerful than another (Glencross, 2014). This political definition is supported by the strength both economically and militarily that comes with the integration of these member nations. For many decades’, nations were against the idea of forming a union and the first six were only truly convinced of the benefits after the conclusion of World War I. The integration of these six nations and the later integration of 22 more is thus defined by the shared value that there should never be atrocities inflicted like those in the Great War. Today, even those not in the EU share this same value and show it by entering other alliance treaties such as NATO and the Untied Nations. Therefore, the best definition of Europe is based on the set of shared values used as the standard for maintaining peace.

Albania and the Idea of Europe

To many, European identity is synonymous with that of the European Union. But this is not the case for Albania. Albania is a country that has long sought to become a part of the EU. Many would not consider the identity of Albania to be aligned with that of “traditional Europe” but I think that the country is simply just misunderstood. Despite not being in the EU, Albania proudly showcases its spot in Europe’s shared history and ancestry and highlights the small role it played in the Greek and Roman empires. The territory of Albania also fell under Byzantine rule, which was when it was introduced to Christianity. Albania is very much a product of its history and there are two main reasons why Albania doesn’t seem to fit the bill for the traditional European identity: religion and politics. As a result of its conquering by the Ottoman Empire, many people in Albania converted to Islam. Albania has since been dubbed a Muslim country and although 59% of the population identify as such, there is no official state religion (The World Factbook, 2018). Christianity is the second most practiced religion in the country and Mother Teresa is ethnically Albanian. Despite this, the country continues to promote its secular views as a result of its 50-year dalliance with communism in which its anti-religion campaign suppressed all forms of worship and repurposed most religious institutions into cultural centers. A 2010 Gallup poll reported that religion plays a role in the lives of only 39% of Albanians and ranks Albania the thirteenth least religious country in the world (Wikipedia). As previously mentioned, Albania fell prey to communism after the end of World War II, but before then had attempted to form a democratic government in the late 20’s. The collapse of communism revamped the democratization of the country in 1992. Because of its political structure for the better part of the 20^th century and its location to former Yugoslavia, Albania is seen as just another poor, southeastern European nation.  And while Albania has a long way to go in terms of economic growth, their misunderstood identity should not be a restriction to their entry.

Glencross, Andrew. The Politics of European Integration, 22-29.   West Sussex: John Wiley & Sons, 2014.

“Religion in Albania,” Wikipedia, last modified September 9, 2018, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion_in_Albania. 

“Europe: Albania,” CIA World Factbook, last modified August 16, 2018, https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/al.html.