IES Lecture Series: "New Europeans, New Identities"

 Richard Lewis and Amanda Kliekowski von Koppenfels

On February 15, IES Senior Research Fellow Richard Lewis kicked off the new IES Spring Lecture Series on European Identity, with a lecture entitled “New Europeans, New Identities”. He was introduced by co-organizer Amanda Kliekowski von Koppenfels of the University of Kent at Brussels.

Richard, who has a wide experience in the refugee problematique (stemming from his pre-IES career as a European Commission official in DG Justice, Freedom and Security, and prior to that, involved in finding solutions during the crisis in former Yugoslavia), presented us with a number of interesting ideas on the concepts of identity and integration. Making a broad philosophical tour of many of the issues that will be treated during the lecture series, he dug extensively into his experience to place the issues at hand in a wider framework. He pointed out under which demographic and political circumstances the presence of large groups of a different culture is perceived as “problematic”, and gave a few examples where measures did lead to a harmonious society. In particular, he pointed out the example of Frankfurt-am-Main, where the city council made major efforts to prevent ghetto-isation.

On the issue of identities (plural), he explained the various facets of which our identity consists, making us what we are. Multiple identities can, however, at times, be conflicting. A person can feel isolated or even rejected in the culture surrounding him or her, leading to feelings of frustration, in turn leading to undesired reactions towards the state where one resides. And whilst suggesting immigrants should not be forced to assimilate, they should be aware of the society in which they live, and understand it. He outlined the concept of “private persona” (at home) and “public persona”, in which the person should conform to the rules of the society in which he or she lives. Conflicts often come to exist where those two touch.

A lively discussion followed the lecture itself, during which many different views on the roles of immigrants and new citizens, were given.