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48 J. Common Mkt. Stud. 1 (2010)

handle is hein.journals/jcmks48 and id is 1 raw text is: JCMS 2010 Volume 48. Number 1. pp. 1-19 Political Myth, Mythology and the European Union* VINCENT DELLA SALA University of Trento Abstract The EU, as is commonly held, is a different form of political rule: a polity based on rationality and functional interests, not emotional appeals. Without reference to the narrative of the nation or the state, the question emerges as to whether the European Union needs or has myths? If it does, what are they and how successful have they been? The aim of this article - indeed of the special issue - is to explore the role of political myth in creating normative and cognitive foundations for governing in the EU and to examine whether these are applicable to the case of the European Union. If this is your land, where are your stories? Aboriginal proverb (Chamberlin, 2004, p. 13) Introduction Much like Canada's aboriginal people who believed that claims to land were based on the stories that were told about it, claims to legitimate political rule also need their stories. Every form of social organization requires narratives to give it meaning and to provide a reason for being (Blumenberg, 1985; Meyer and Rowan, 1977). Political authority is no different and has a narra- tive that frames who can govern, why, how and over whom. Our normative * I would like to thank Mark Gilbert and Gerard Bouchard for helpful comments in addition to the anonymous referees for all the contributions to this issue. C 2010 The Author(s) Journal compilation C 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK and 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148, USA