Conclusion

Abstract

Europeanization is an obstinately elusive concept. As the Introduction to this volume sought to demonstrate, attempts to arrive at a definition of Europeanization have tended either to become stranded on rather empty statements of the obvious, or have become entangled in the inherently self-referential nature of the term. This volume has not sought to present a solution to this problem; indeed, what might be termed the anti-conclusion of our collective endeavours is that efforts to arrive at a satisfactory single definition of the term are likely to fail. This should not, however, imply that the concept is lacking in either meaning or value. On the contrary, we believe that the essays in this volume demonstrate the value of examining the history of twentieth-century Europe through the prism of Europeanization. In doing so, it is, however, essential to approach Europeanization not as a fixed phenomenon (against which the tides of history might be measured), but as an inherently plural concept, that was part of the historical process and evolved over time.

I am grateful to my co-editor Kiran Patel for his comments on a first draft of this Conclusion.