THE DECLINE OF NATIONALISMS WITHIN WESTERN-EUROPE

A decline of nationalism is occurring in twelve European countries at a moment when nationalism is still the dominant ideology in most independent countries and is exacerbated in eastern Europe. Such asynchronism is visible in many domains. Five indicators are particularly significant: feeling of national pride, level of willingness or reluctance to fight for one's country in the event of war, degree of confidence in one's national army, mutual trust among European countries, and feeling of belonging to the European Community. Simultaneously with the decline of nationalism, a supranational consciousness is slowly developing, to which the multiplicity of European languages is the main obstacle. The analysis concentrates on each western European country's perception of other western European countries.