Europe’s Ethnoschism. Nordic Manliness vs Latin Glamour, 1914-1929

Project Information

ETHNOSCHISM

Grant agreement ID: 101066120

DOI

10.3030/101066120

Project closed

EC signature date 10 October 2022

Start date 1 February 2023

End date 31 January 2025

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 203 464,32

Coordinated by

UNIVERSITEIT VAN AMSTERDAM
Netherlands

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - ETHNOSCHISM (Europe’s Ethnoschism. Nordic Manliness vs Latin Glamour, 1914-1929)

Reporting period: 2023-02-01 to 2025-01-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

ETHNOSCHISM explores the historical, linguistic, and literary construction of national identities through the lens of ethnotypes—culturally ingrained stereotypes about national and ethnic groups. The project critically examines how these ethnotypes were shaped, circulated, and weaponized in early 20th-century Europe, a period marked by the rise of nationalism, World War I, and significant ideological shifts. The study focuses on understanding how national identities were not only reflected in texts but actively constructed and reinforced through discourse, influencing wartime alliances, cultural hierarchies, and postwar national identities.

The research builds on foundational theories by scholars such as Benedict Anderson, Miroslav Hroch, and Anne-Marie Thiesse, who highlight how national identities are socially and discursively constructed. ETHNOSCHISM expands these perspectives by incorporating interdisciplinary and transnational approaches. It investigates how ethnotypes were deployed in political, social, and cultural discourse during World War I, particularly in relation to the Teutonic (Germanic) and Latin (Romance) divides, which were emphasized during the conflict. These essentialist stereotypes, often framed in racial, moral, or civilizational terms, were disseminated widely through propaganda, literature, and popular culture, shaping how nations viewed themselves and each other.

A key objective of ETHNOSCHISM is to understand how these national stereotypes were produced, circulated, and reinforced not only in historical and literary texts but also in other media forms. The study argues that ethnotypes were more than rhetorical devices; they played a crucial role in shaping wartime alliances, cultural hierarchies, and postwar national identities.

The research employs a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary methodology that integrates historical, linguistic, and literary analysis. The study uses three primary methodological frameworks:

1. Transnational and Interdisciplinary History of National Thought: This approach contextualizes national stereotypes within broader historical processes, examining how ethnotypes emerge and evolve through transnational exchanges.
2. Discourse Historical Approach (DHA): A critical discourse analysis method that explores how nationalist discourses are shaped by historical contexts and embedded in textual sources, revealing implicit meanings and ideological underpinnings.
3. Imagology: A branch of comparative literature that focuses on the construction and perpetuation of national stereotypes in literary and cultural narratives.

The research draws from a broad corpus of primary sources, including:
- World War I propaganda materials, particularly those reflecting the Franco-German opposition through ethnic and national stereotypes.
- Academic and pseudo-scientific texts on national character, such as early 20th-century ethnology, psychology, and political science.
- Popular culture materials and media

Work Packages (WPs)
ETHNOSCHISM is organized into several work packages (WPs) to systematically address different research goals:
- WP1 focuses on the historical genealogy of Teutonic and Latin identities in wartime rhetoric, analyzing how these ethnotypes were used in World War I.
- WP2 and WP3 investigate the political and cultural impact of popular stereotypes, including gendered representations of national identities.
- WP4 examines the integration of literary and cultural repertoires of ethnotypes and their political functions across Europe.

Overall, the project aims to offer an integrated and interdisciplinary understanding of how national stereotypes were constructed, disseminated, and used during a critical period of European history. By analyzing a diverse range of sources and employing innovative methodologies, ETHNOSCHISM will deepen our understanding of how ethnotypes influenced political, social, and cultural dynamics in early 20th-century Europe.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Scientific and Technical Activities
ETHNOSCHISM employs an interdisciplinary methodology that integrates imagological discourse analysis with historical, cultural, and political research. The project explores the role of ethnotypes as a discursive factor in shaping European national identities and international relations. Its primary objective is to analyze how representations of national character have influenced academic, political, and popular discourse from the early 20th century to the present.

The research is structured around several key activities:
Data Collection and Text Analysis: Systematic collection of textual and visual sources related to national stereotypes, using archival research, digital humanities tools (NODEGOAT), and interdisciplinary theoretical frameworks.
Workshops and Conferences: Organization of two specialized workshops—‘Ethnotypes at War (1914-1918)’ and ‘Genderization of National Stereotypes’—which foster interdisciplinary discussion and methodological exchanges. The outcomes will contribute to edited volumes and scholarly discussions.
Academic Publications: The research findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed journal articles and edited volumes. Key publications include:
A study on ‘Teutonism vs. Latinism during WW1’ (WP2), targeting journals such as Contemporary European History.
An article on ‘Gender and the political impact of popular culture and popularized knowledge in early 20th-century Europe’ (WP3), to be submitted to Gender and History.
A critical anthology on the Franco-German opposition in WW1 academic discourse (WP1), co-edited with Joep Leerssen.
An edited volume summarizing ETHNOSCHISM’s interdisciplinary contributions to the study of ethnotypes, particularly the North-South divide in European thought.
Digital Humanities and Data Visualization: The project employs NODEGOAT for the collection and relational analysis of data, allowing spatial and chronological contextualization of ethnotypes in European discourse.
ETHNOSCHISM is expected to have a significant scientific impact by offering a novel methodological approach that bridges cultural representations and political ideologies. Its findings will deepen scholarly understanding of ethnotypes as ideological constructs and contribute to broader debates on European identity, nationalism, and cultural memory.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

ETHNOSCHISM advances scholarly understanding of ethnotypes by pioneering an interdisciplinary approach that integrates cultural, scientific, and political analyses. Unlike previous studies, which have examined national stereotypes within isolated disciplinary frameworks, this project conceptualizes ethnotypes as a shared discursive repertoire that connects literature, scientific discourse, and political ideology. This innovative framework allows for a more comprehensive analysis of how representations of national character have shaped both historical narratives and contemporary political debates.

A key methodological breakthrough of ETHNOSCHISM is the application of imagological discourse analysis to academic and political writings, enabling a systematic investigation of the ways in which national stereotypes have functioned across multiple domains. This approach not only historicizes ethnotypes but also exposes their role in shaping ideological constructs that persist in European political and cultural discourse.

The project’s findings contribute to two major advancements in the field:
1. Reframing Ethnotypes as Political Metaphors: ETHNOSCHISM critically deconstructs ethnotypes as powerful rhetorical tools that have influenced both historical and contemporary debates on nationalism, identity, and international relations. By focusing on the North-South divide, the research opens new pathways for analyzing other intra-European dichotomies, such as the representation of Slavic identities in relation to authoritarianism or the distinction between sedentary and migratory populations.
2. Uncovering Ideological Barriers to European Integration: The study provides new insights into how deep-rooted national stereotypes continue to shape European collaboration and identity politics. By revealing the ideological underpinnings of these divisions, ETHNOSCHISM offers a framework for critically reassessing contemporary political discourse and identifying strategies for fostering a more inclusive European identity.

Through its groundbreaking theoretical and methodological contributions, ETHNOSCHISM redefines the study of ethnotypes, demonstrating their long-term impact on European cultural and political history while opening new avenues for interdisciplinary research.