New Books in Critical Theory Hans Kundnani, "Eurowhiteness: Culture, Empire and Race in the European Project" (Hurst, 2023)
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Aug 17, 2023 Eurowhiteness: Culture, Empire and Race in the European Project features Hans Kundnani discussing the historical development of European identity and its connection to whiteness. He argues that pro-Europeanism resembles nationalism on a continental scale and that the EU promotes whiteness. Kundnani explores the colonial origins of European integration and the attitudes of minority voters in the EU towards Brexit. He also examines European identity among Black and Asian Brits, providing insightful perspectives. The podcast concludes with book recommendations on the intersection of European colonialism and early European integration, and the lives of Caribbean immigrants in Britain during the 1950s.
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A Personal Connection to Europe
- Kundnani's mixed heritage (Indian father, Dutch mother) influenced his perspective on European identity.
- Feeling neither fully European nor fully non-European sparked his inquiry into the concept of "Euro whiteness."
The Myth of Cosmopolitan Europe
- Kundnani challenges the EU's founding narrative as a myth of cosmopolitanism.
- He emphasizes the disconnect between this idealized perception and the EU's historical reality, particularly during the Euro crisis.
The Evolution of European Identity
- European identity historically intertwined with Christendom, evolving into a secular, rationalist identity alongside colonialism.
- This modern identity is closely linked to whiteness, exemplified by interchangeable signs for "whites only" and "Europeans only" during apartheid.