The Ever-Shifting Borders of Europe: How History, Politics, and Present Crises Shape Debates Over European Identity
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The definition of Europe's borders has always been vague, debated, and influenced by history and politics.
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Ideas of a unified Europe emerged in the 18th century and grew after WW1 and WW2 as a political and economic project.
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EU membership criteria have aimed to be technical but gut feelings about who "belongs" play a role.
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Faultlines over institutions and culture have recently revived divisions between European peoples.
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Today's big challenges like Ukraine make geography more salient, reminding Europeans they're "stuck together".