Cosmopolitan Europe!? A Conversation

The European Union is often perceived by social scientists as just an economic and political machine.  Yet, in the eyes of citizens, it very often means freedom of movement.  It is this freedom of movement that underlies whatever social and cultural integration may be taking place in Europe.  In the light of the rich literature published in the last ten to fifteen years, this plenary addresses the extent and character of social and cultural integration within the European Union.  In particular, it reflects on the role that the European Union plays relative to globalization in the development of cosmopolitanism.