6. Discourse, Myths and Emotions in EU Politics

This chapter carries the study of political myths and emotions into the discursive institutionalism. It argues that political myths and emotions are crucial for understanding both how the constitution of the European Union becomes a political reality and how the integration process occurs. Appeals to political myths and emotions clearly play a role—perhaps even a key role—in communicating and legitimising EU policy and institutional choices, yet the key argument in this chapter is that political emotions are also crucial to understanding coordination among political elites. The political roles of myths and emotions are illustrated by examples of the role and emotional appeal of ‘green Europe’ and ‘social Europe’ among transnational non-governmental organisations.