Narrating Europe: the EU’s ontological security dilemma

Identifying the narratives that social actors tell and use can provide us with some insight into how they have understood the world around them, when and how they should act and why. The argument about narratives and ontological security in the EU will make three points when examining two European stories: the EU’s foundational narrative and that of united in diversity. First, the EU seeks ontological security generated through narratives. Second, the EU’s narratives are not that different from those of national experiences. Third, and relatedly, narratives that attempt to construct ontological security for the EU may increase ontological insecurity in other actors.