23. Can Europe Stay United? The EU, National Identity, and the Future of European Politics — On the Road with Dr. Nelsen

What does it mean to be European in the twenty-first century?

In this episode of Tocqueville Talks, Brent Nelsen joins three Tocqueville Fellows—Madison (“Maddie”) Maddie, Zach LaComb, and Lane Lytle—from Strasbourg, France, during Furman University's May Experience course, United Europe: Past and Present. After two weeks traveling through Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg, and France, the group reflects on what they learned about the history, politics, culture, and future of the European Union.

The conversation explores one of the defining questions facing Europe today: can a continent shaped by centuries of conflict sustain a common political identity in an era of rising nationalism, geopolitical competition, and cultural change?

Drawing on visits to the European Parliament, the European Commission, the Court of Justice of the European Union, and meetings with journalists, policymakers, and European leaders, the students discuss how Europe understands itself—and how ordinary Europeans often view the European Union differently than political elites do.

The episode features reflections on conversations with Roberta Metsola and journalist Sarah Wheaton, as well as observations gathered from guides, local residents, and fellow travelers across the continent.

Topics include:

• The future of European integration and EU enlargement
• Ukraine, Russia, and European security
• National identity versus European identity
• The rise of right-wing populist parties across Europe
• Immigration, cultural cohesion, and political conflict
• How Europeans view the United States and NATO
• The legacy of World War II in contemporary European politics
• Whether democracy can defend itself against anti-democratic movements

The students also reflect on cultural experiences that reveal a different side of Europe, from Gothic cathedrals and medieval city centers to conversations about education, religion, and everyday life. Along the way, they encounter one of the central tensions of modern Europe: the desire for unity alongside enduring regional, national, linguistic, and cultural differences.

A recurring theme throughout the discussion is memory. The European Union emerged from the devastation of two world wars with the goal of preventing future conflict. But as living memory of those events fades, new political movements and new challenges are testing the institutions that were built in their aftermath.

The episode asks:

Can Europe remain united when its citizens increasingly identify with their nations, regions, or local communities?

Or will external pressures—from Russia, China, migration, and shifting American priorities—ultimately strengthen a shared European identity?

For students of politics, history, international relations, and European affairs, this conversation offers a firsthand look at a continent wrestling with some of the most important questions of the modern world.