1. Defining Western Europe:• Europe geographically: Scandinavia to Mediterranean, Atlantic to Urals• Idea: exists in our common imagination and not only as a physical space as opposed to the physical layout of the continent • Community of Values: • among all Europeans• democracy • rule of law• secularism• market economy• social solidarity• legacy of Enlightenment and Renaissance• EU influence on modern definition:• interpreted as economic community with single market and currency• Europe as a political community with common government institutions and policies• Key social, historic, and political differences:• history of conflict• numerous nation-states• different government traditions• different linguistic, ethnic and cultural groups• different religions• Euroskepticism • rejects the idea of a unified Europe• Criticizes EU• parties on right think EU should be abolished• EU parliament has group of members that are anti-EU• legacies of economic and political development in W. Europe:• distinctive political and economic development path leads to birth of modern nation-state: • sovereignty• exclusive political authority• nationalism• legitimacy of new state• states fulfill destinies of states• nationalization politics• transfer of political authority to the national government• enlightenment --> democratic ideals• limited government• social contract• concept of rights• emphasis on reason• rejection of religious rule• capitalism and market economy• industrial revolution• private ownership• market competition• capitalist critiques• Marx, Communism• protectionism, state intervention• social democracy• european social model• welfare state• Eastern vs. Western:• as opposed to the West (above), the East:• after middle ages, became a rule of empires• Habsburg, Russian, Ottoman, Prussian• belated development of sovereign nations• belated industrialization• lack of economic prosperity• Modern definitions of Europe, E. vs. W:• Cold War reinforced divisions• Commie vs. non-commie 1945-1989• "in transition"• Western as dominant and defining of what "europe" and "european" mean2. Immigration and Politics of Culture:• 3 phases:• 1950s - early 1970s• response to labor shortages• German, Belgium, French• after WWII• "guest workers" from S. Europe and colonies• 1970s• economic crisis• not much need for "guest workers"• permits disappear• "primary" migration limited• "family reunification" migrants increase• 1980s - today• family reunification has continued • asylum seekers increase• crises accelerate in 1980s and 1990s• former Yugoslavia, Serbs• asylum• 1990s:• migration from former Commie countries to Western and Southern Europe• different ways in which they migrate:• family reunification & seeking asylum• limited ways for economic migration• before WWII:• Europeans going from one country to next• WWII era:• many new immigrants who aren't white or Christian• prevalence of Islam• many from African colonies & Asia• W. European societies are more multicultural than they previously were• immigration policies at national level:• assimilation:• immigrants expected to adopt practices, customs, and language of host country• no change in government policies• ex: France• integration:• immigrants adopt some of host country's culture• governments make policy changes to accommodate multiple cultures • ex: Sweden, Netherlands (current)• multiculturalism:• governments don't require immigrants to adopt the host country's culture, hands off• multiple identities and cultures coexist in same country• ex: The Netherlands in 1990s• EU and immigration• policies governing refugees• asylum seeker vs. refugee• migration at EU level• Schengen Agreement (1995)• visa free travel among its signatories• Dublin Convention (1997) & Dublin Regulation (2003)• asylum seekers do an application at first point of entry• Jopke:• civil integration is becoming a new common feature of W. European immigration policies • obligatory integration courses (language, civics, etc.) before/upon arrival• sanctions for non-compliance• Netherlands' dramatic policy changes • multicultural to integrationist • French• Reception and Integration Contracts• civic instruction• Germany• integration courses• Schain• far right parties• opposition to immigration• came to power via coalitionist participation• goal: find electoral support • examples: • Germany Republikaner• Denmark: Danish People Party• third largest in legislation• Austria: Freedom Party3. Political Culture and Behavior:• Political culture• attitudes, beliefs, values• provides basic assumptions and rules that govern political behavior• Political socialization• process through which an individual acquires a political culture• school, family, peer influence• Political legitimacy• European political culture and country based political culture• voluntary acceptance of validity of a country's political system by its citizens• Political efficacy• feeling that one is capable of participating effectively in political life• big variations among European countries• Interpersonal trust• how much trust among citizens• Social capital• skills and attitudes associated with active citizenship• Relationship between the above• measures of democratic political culture• source of legitimacy for democratic regimes• Interest group tendencies • social and economic partners• checks on government authority • Democratic political culture: political culture supportive of democracy• belief in democratic government• varying levels of support• belief in individual rights and freedoms• political tolerance• high degree of political tolerance but varies• interpersonal trust• big differences across Europe• social capital• political efficacy• big variations • interest groups• facilitate political participation and efficacy • social movements• Main trends• religion• high in some immigrant communities• abortion• legal in all W. Europe• Ireland has most restrictive abortion policy• prostitution • legal in most countries• drugs and homosexuality• big differences• gay marriage: • legal in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK• environment•