The Image of European Identities : The European Union and Instagram

Abstract: The aim of this study is to look at the discourses of European identity from two different angles. The first angle is European identity from an EU perspective which EU seeks to create amongst the European citizens. This is studied in the book European Foreign Policy, consisting of legislations and treaties connected to the Common Foreign and Security Policy. The second angle is the images of European identity that are portrayed on Instagram This is studied by examining images with hashtag “European” which were compiled into statistical evidence and four of the images will be deeper analysed. The methods that were used were mixed methods, comparative case study, as well as images analysis. Two theories were used to incorporate all aspects of the material: discourse analysis and semiotics of images. The EU has as an aim in specific treaties and resolutions to create unity, community, and common values between the people of Europe; this aim has been more or less successfully reached. There are also a number of different concepts concerning identity that brings forth the many aspects and layers of identity. Instagram is a social media outlet that shows the opinion of the general public and they create an unforced European identity that the users decide themselves to identify with. The research on Instagram shows that identity is portrayed through images and hashtags. To conclude, European identity is ever changing and it is possible to identify with it in different ways. Is European identity important in order for the EU to survive.