Europe plays an important role in multi -pole world，But it has never been a complete political entity。From the historical perspective，In different historical periods, Europe is a community of interests built by many independent political entities on the basis of sharing culture，and often define yourself and others，Strengthen the identity of Europeans。Cultural condensed Europe has strong ideological features，Cultural liquidity determines the uncertainty of the European boundary，It is easy to cause division and conflict in Europe in the sense of geography。Europe should become an important one of the world，But the power of culture is not enough to make Europe a unified、Complete political entity。In fact，After the division of the Charlie Empire is split，Europe has never been unified，This situation restricts Europe as a whole for its strength。

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The World is undergoing a big change in a century，Multi -polarization world is the development direction of a big change。In multi -pole world，Europe will become one of them，Efforts to play an important role on the world stage。European conditions should also be an important force in the world pattern。

but but，Europe as a whole，Have internal defects，The problem of its own identity is always an unspeakable obstacle。There is no region in the world in the world to look at yourself in a way of viewing the nation -state like Europe.，It is necessary to play a role in the world with action like a nation -state。Europe will realize the wish of this super national country，It is extremely difficult in reality。Besides，Where is Europe，I have always been uncertain。Europe as a continent，The spatial range in the sense of geography is clear。But Europeanly said in Europe，Often is not the continent in the sense of geography，and mainly refers to some European regions centered on Western Europe，Currently represented by the EU。Not only does the border between the two not match，And the Bet365 lotto review boundary referred to the European boundary is always in the flow，Causes contradictions and conflicts within European Europe。

Daily so -called Europe is within the scope of geographical Europe，There is a specific space。But，It does not have a unified sovereignty like a nation -state、Clear borders that have political power can cover，Its space is constructed by a culture with obvious ideological characteristics，Culture is flowing。On the one hand，From the historical perspective，In different historical periods，major changes in mainstream European culture，For example，Democratic、Freedom、Civilization、Western culture with progress is the mainstream culture of Western society in modern times，It is completely different from the European culture dominated by Christianity。On the other hand，Culture has the process of spreading and expanding culture，Sometimes shrinking situations，The impact of culture is generally defined in the scope of Europe。The liquidity of cultural culture has caused the characteristics of the European border built by culture.。

Look at it from a good aspect，The liquidity characteristics of the border are conducive to the expansion of the scope of European forces with the help of the soft power of culture。But on the other hand，The unable to stabilize the boundary makes Europe not look so real，Therefore, it restricts the huge role in Europe as China like China。

　It does not exist as a political entity

Europe never exists as a political entity。The scope of ancient Greek civilization in Europe is very limited，and the relationship with Asia (mainly small Asia) is more closely。In the era of Greek，The direction of the spread of Greek culture is mainly Asia in the East，Including Xiaoya Mina、West Asia，Its influence and east to Central Asia and South Asia，south to Egypt。At that time，The threshold for the vast area of ​​Europe has not yet entered civilization。and the so -called Europe at the time，It's just that the Greek is different from the Western Land of Little Asia。

to the ancient Rome period，The influence of Roman civilization in Europe has expanded。The Roman Empire starts the Atlantic Ocean west of the territory of Europe，north to the Rhine and Danube，East to Black Sea，South to bet365 best casino games the Mediterranean coast。The main land in Europe today (including Britain)，The first time in history is the only time，Unified under a empire。but but，Even during the Roman Empire，On the one hand，Most of Europe today is still not subject to the rule of the empire。On the other hand，The Roman Empire is a great empire that cross Eurasia and Africa，The Mediterranean is the inner sea of ​​the empire。The prosperous place of the European part of the Roman Empire，In fact, still on the Mediterranean coast，Not the majority of Europe north of the Alps under the conquest of the empire。At that time，There is a unified Roman Empire，But there is no unified Europe。

After the Western Roman Empire dies，A series of barbarians kingdoms are established。where，Frank Kingdom is more powerful，It constantly conquer outward expansion。to the Charlie period (742-814)，The territory of the kingdom expanded north to the Yi Bei River;，The power arrives、Eastern Europe; south，Expansion to northern Italy，It has surpassed the scope of the Roman Empire in Europe。The kingdom created by Charlie is generally equivalent to today's Western European land。800 years，Pope crown Charlie，Called him "the Emperor of the Romans"。sounds，Charlie became the heir of the Roman Empire。Actually，There is no direct inheritance relationship。

Charlie was known as "the father of Europe" at the time。Visible，The starting point of the history of "Europe" is at the period of Charlie's rule。843 years，Charlie's empire is divided into three。Since then，Jiangshan by the "father of Europe"，Never unified again。but but，Europeans have always had a unified European wish，The Holy Roman Empire appeared in the Middle Ages，It has always existed until 1806 by Napoleon abolition。But this so -called "empire" is neither Rome，Not sacred，More non -empire，No unified Europe。Later，Napoleon and Hitler are also trying to establish the European Empire，But all end in failure。For more than a thousand years，Europeans' efforts to unify Europe have never given up，Today's EU represents the unified efforts of Europe，It is also the closest state of Europe，bet365 best casino games Although Europe has a long way to go。

　　Gradually form European consciousness

Although Europe has not been unified politically，But the European consciousness of Europeans gradually form in the historical process，Common culture and values ​​condense the ethnic group living in Western and Northwestern European regions，generated the identity of Europeans。

In the Middle Ages，Christianity unite Europe，and strengthen Europeans' European identity and cohesion in the struggle with pagans。After the barbarian invasion，Believe in Christianity。Later，Frank Kingdom Expansion，Put in with the spread of Christianity，Where to conquer the army，Where is the spread of Christianity。secular regime and church support each other，Consolidated their respective status and rule。Although the feudal European Europe is politically divided，But Christianity associates all countries。This is particularly reflected in the Crusades East Expedition，The Pope calls on all Christians to fight with pagans，Unite European countries，The collective identity of Christian identity against Muslims has been formed。At that time，Europeans expressed European identity in the way of "Latin Christianity"，They define their identity in the confrontation with pagan。

to early modern，Divorce occurred in the Christian world，Religious reform，Many countries have become new religion countries，Christianity can no longer bear the heavy task that condenses Europe。but but，Humanistic thought in Europe in the Renaissance, the spread of Europe，Small concepts replace religious bonds。At the same time，Geographical discovery also makes Europeans re -position，They replaced the relationship between Christians and pagans with the relationship between civilization and barbaric，Use this relationship to distinguish between humans in Europeans and other parts of the world，"Civilization" becomes a mark that knows yourself and distinguish others。

to 18、19th Century，After Enlightenment、An industrial revolution and a series of political revolution represented by the French Revolution，Europeans created a new discourse system，In addition to "civilization"bet365 best casino games ，progress、Reason、Modern、Democratic、Freedom、Human rights and other concepts have become the basic component of the new ideology of Westerners。Europeans have built a new recognition foundation，This foundation is secular rather than religion。But the method of recognition，Just as historically used binary pairs of legislation，By emphasizing the brutal of others、backward、ignorance、autocracy、Tradition, etc.，Highlight the superiority of European culture。Modern Europe is still divided politically，and split into many nation -states。The reality of splitting and conflict has even touched the consolidation of insightful people in European countries about European identity。Rousseau and Voltaire call on people in Europe to treat themselves as "Europeans"，instead of belonging to a certain country。From San Ximen to Kant、Kizo、Hugo、Berke，The thinkers have proposed their European ideas。Libnitz and Hume propose to create a European National Alliance。

The clear European identity concept was formed in modern times，The values ​​of Europeans today are basically formed in the last four or five centuries。But different from the cultural foundation of the Middle Ages，Modern Europeans have obvious sense of racial superiority，Its culture has the nature of cultural racism。So far，Europeans look at themselves and the world，It still has European centralism。

　　Political unity is very difficult

History of Europe，France、Germany and Italy are the core of Europe，This is the basic disk left by the Charlie Empire。No matter what time，The so -called "Europe" is always centered on them，Other European countries are more or less peripherals。

The relationship between Britain and Europe is very subtle，It is both within Europe，Outside Europe。It is within Europe because of common cultural identity。From the perspective of culture and values，Britain is undoubtedly one of the core countries in Europe，When it treats the relationship with non -Western countries，Standing on the standpoint of Europe。But，From the historical perspective，Britain does not belong to Charlie Empire，Not the origin of Europe。This makes it with the law、bet365 Play online games Different virtue，To some extent, it can be free from "Europe"。Britain and Law、De、It is indeed different，It can be left with "Europe"，This depends on its interests。

Russia is often excluded from Europe，Although it is the country with the largest geographical European area，But it has always been difficult to squeeze into the core circle of Europe。Russia has never form a culturally integrated with Europe，Not the component of Europe that has not become a culture。This is not difficult to understand，Why France today、Germany、The major European countries such as the United Kingdom can often be self -proclaimed with "Europe" without Russia's feelings、For European endorsement。Europe has always been split in the geographical sense，This is a separation caused by historical culture。

Europe is limited by culture and values ​​to limit its border，With the expansion of the EU forces，Other European countries, which were originally in the European cultural frontier, after accepting the mainstream culture and values ​​of Europe，Already or is becoming part of Europe。Future，The expansion of Europe will also be based on the recognition of cultural and values。The usual method adopted by Europeans to establish European identity is the method of binary opposition，Not only identifying the commonality of European culture, but also define yourself and others，and strengthen your identity through the confrontation with others，The European -built Europe must have a strong ideological color。

Of course, Europe is constructed by culture，But the European -built Europe is essentially a community of interests。When the medieval Europe is split,，Christianity condenses different political forces in Europe，Comparative against Islamic。Since modern times，European identity ensures the conquest and expansion of the world for colonialism and imperialism。After two world wars，Europeans recognize that the division and confrontation of Europe can cause disaster，The condensation and reconstruction of Europe is in line with European interests。So，method、De、Italian Western European countries have once again embarked on Bet365 app download a long road to build Europe。Today，The world is undergoing a big change in a hundred years。Europe worked hard to become a whole、Forms a desire for an independent and powerful community，It looks more urgent than any period of history。

Common culture and values ​​help build the boundary of Europe，In history culture、Based on ideological and common interests，Unity in Europe can be achieved。Especially when facing common enemies，Europe will condense，enhances European identity again。but，Culture Europe cannot assume the mission to make Europe a unified entity，From the history since the disintegration of Charlie Empire，It is very difficult to achieve European political unity。

(The author is a professor at the School of History of the University of China、Researcher at the Institute of World History of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences、Vice President of the Modern History Research Association of China)