'How ordinary EU citizens understand and connect with the idea of Europe has long been something of a black box in research. Drawing on an ethnographic approach, this book makes an important and timely contribution to debates on Europe from below. By analysing the meanings that visitors at EU-funded cultural events give to Europe and the European, it provides valuable insights into cultural Europeanisation and the politics of belonging.'
- Cris Shore, Professor of Social Anthropology, Goldsmiths University of London

'The authors highlight key issues and concerns shaping people’s conceptions of Europe and point to the tension between diversity being seen as preventing a European identity while also considered core to it, acknowledging mobility as both “an answer and a challenge to politics of belonging”. In doing so from an insightful interdisciplinary perspective, they are diagnosing a major issue for future research across the broad field of European Studies.'
- Ullrich Kockel, Professor of Cultural Ecology and Sustainability, Heriot-Watt University

'‘Europe from below’ is at least as relevant and much less recognized than institutional Europe; this book is a great companion to effectively grasp cultural Europeanization in its diverse manifestations. An important contribution to scholarship on European cultural identity and policies.'
- Monica Sassatelli, Associate Professor of Sociology of Culture and Communication, Università di Bologna

'We speak more than ever about identity politics. This book will be the most authoritative study of the European Union’s effort to provide European citizens with a European identity through its cultural policies. With its ethnographic approach, the book takes us beyond the top-down policy studies and analyse the many different ideas of Europe expressed by ordinary citizens.'
- Jan Ifversen, Associate Professor of European Studies, Aarhus University