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Articles

Vol. 55 No. 2 (2025): Law and Social Bonds no. 2 (55) 2025

What is Europe? A Reflection from Overseas on the Federalization of the European Union

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36128/PRIW.VI55.1217
Submitted
13 February 2025
Published
5 June 2025
Versions

Abstract

This paper explores the continent’s identity through four foundational pillars — logos, ethos, polis, and ius — that have shaped both European and Western civilization. Amidst the richness of its diversity, Christianity, understood as a historical and cultural cornerstone rather than a confessional framework, emerges as a potential unifying force. However, as the European Union shifts towards an economistic and procedural approach, prioritizing regulations over deeper philosophical foundations, its claim to be a “union of values” risks becoming merely declarative. In this context, reconsidering the nature of European unity becomes essential. Rather than seeking homogenization or a superficial consensus, Europe’s identity should embrace the paradox of unity in diversity — an intricate interplay of cultural, historical, and moral traditions that fosters dynamism and innovation. Moreover, the course of EU integration, whether in a federal or alternative form, has profound implications not only for Europe itself, but also for the wider Western world and its moral and political foundations.

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