It is common knowledge that for centuries, Europeans have often been audaciously inclined to impose their own cultural values or standards upon others (one can just look back at the colonial period). For example, in India at the beginning of the 19th century, the old Suttee tradition was banned by the British Government. The tradition of Suttee generally declared that a deceased man´s wife would have to share the same fate as her husband, and this resulted in her death (she was usually burned on the stake).
Two important questions that we must consider are - Is it right to instil our cultural values elsewhere? And, if so, how much tradition (either local or national) should we keep as a nation before it becomes unwanted ‘baggage,’ which limits our capacity to fully integrate with others? We shall argue that culture is not only the most important medium to link Europeans together (whether they come from an EU Member State or not), but how it can serve as a uniting tool for people across the globe.
For this, we discussed and debated the sensitive issue of immigration. Does the EU possess a certain power of attraction for other states outside of the EU? Is the EU attractive as a whole, or do certain Member States seem to be regarded as preferable immigration destinations?
Read more: Qua vadis, Europe? Inside and outside perspectives - The New Federalist, webzine of the Young European Federalist
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