Identity, otherness, and psycho-cultural dynamics

Since 2008 Europe has been suffering a sequence of turbulent events. Following the global financial crisis, European countries had to face the Greek crisis, the migration and refugee crisis, terrorist attacks, rising support for far-right and populist parties, with the addition of eurosceptic attitudes and intolerance, and the Brexit referendum, which ratified the withdrawal of the UK from the European Union. Almost all these socio-political processes had a disruptive potential, insofar as they brought about the risk of undermining social cohesion, trust, wellbeing, and the general societal development, decreased solidarity and cooperation—both among European countries and, within countries, among different social groups—and, more in general, encouraged defensive attitudes towards otherness, and towards whoever otherness is identified with. Indeed, faced with a number of important challenges, EU institutions have responded in ways that have often nullified universalistic values and neglected rights protection, demonstrating persistent difficulties in cooperating and working together to defend them.