European Cultural Identity in Light of Brexit: A Comparison between Liverpool 2008 European Capital of Culture and Hull 2017 UK City of Culture

Isabel SANCHEZ RODRIGUEZ

Master's thesis

European Cultural Identity and Relations in Light of Brexit: A Comparison between Liverpool 2008 European Capital of Culture and Hull 2017 UK City of Culture

Abstract:

In 2017, the European Commission (EC) stated that the United Kingdom was excluded from the competition to host the title of European Capital of Culture (ECOC) in 2023. This was due to the British government's decision to exit the European Union after the results in the 2016 referendum where British citizens voted 'leave' with a slight majority. The EC's resolution has resulted in some debates across the UK regarding whether they should be excluded from the project or not, and remainers feel dispirited. Although the main objective of the ECOC programme is to create a common European identity through showing of the diversity of European people, the outrage arising from this decision has more to do with the impossibility to enjoy all the other benefits that the ECOC brings to the cities. The UK City of Culture (UKCOC) was created after the success of Liverpool 2008 - success measured in economic and urban regeneration terms mainly -, to follow the same path, so that British cities did not have to wait a long time to benefit from such programme. However, now that Brexit has stood in their way to host the European title, can the UKCOC project take over the role of ECOC and be used as a tool to foster a common European identity in a divided society? In this thesis, I want to research the European dimension and European identity building process through a non-EU project such as UK City of Culture, in order to see its connection with Europe and its potential to contribute to the creation of a common European identity in a country which has decided to leave the EU. To do so, I will take Liverpool 2008 as a reference point to compare with the latest UKCOC, Hull 2017. I will analyse the European dimension in both projects and compare the outcomes to draw a conclusion.

Abstract:

In 2017, the European Commission (EC) stated that the United Kingdom was excluded from the competition to host the title of European Capital of Culture (ECOC) in 2023. This was due to the British government's decision to exit the European Union after the results in the 2016 referendum where British citizens voted 'leave' with a slight majority. The EC's resolution has resulted in some debates across the UK regarding whether they should be excluded from the project or not, and remainers feel dispirited. Although the main objective of the ECOC programme is to create a common European identity through showing of the diversity of European people, the outrage arising from this decision has more to do with the impossibility to enjoy all the other benefits that the ECOC brings to the cities. The UK City of Culture (UKCOC) was created after the success of Liverpool 2008 - success measured in economic and urban regeneration terms mainly -, to follow the same path, so that British cities did not have to wait a long time to benefit from such programme. However, now that Brexit has stood in their way to host the European title, can the UKCOC project take over the role of ECOC and be used as a tool to foster a common European identity in a divided society? In this thesis, I want to research the European dimension and European identity building process through a non-EU project such as UK City of Culture, in order to see its connection with Europe and its potential to contribute to the creation of a common European identity in a country which has decided to leave the EU. To do so, I will take Liverpool 2008 as a reference point to compare with the latest UKCOC, Hull 2017. I will analyse the European dimension in both projects and compare the outcomes to draw a conclusion.

Keywords

European Capital of Culture, UK City of Culture, European dimension, intercultural dialogue, European identity, Liverpool, Hull, Brexit.

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 3. 12. 2019

Thesis defence

• Supervisor: doc. Mgr. Martin Elbel, M.A., Ph.D.

Palacký University Olomouc

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Humanities / Euroculture