United in diversity? Framing solidarity in the 2014 European Parliment manifestos

Abstract

The European Union motto “United in Diversity” signifies how Europeans from diverse
backgrounds are coming together in solidarity to work for peace and prosperity. Using frame
analysis, this paper will analyse the diverse solidarity concepts found in the 2014 European
election manifestos. The main research aim is to describe, compare and contrast these
solidarity frames and link them to traditional political ideologies. The analysis showed that
the solidarity frames were influenced by the parties’ respective political understandings of the
concept. It also showed the lack of engagement in the election by some of the Europarties.
Assessing the third aim, to analyse whether the lack of engagement in the election endangered
European solidarity, this paper found the emergence of ‘vertical solidarity’. Forces of
Europeanisation and individualisation has created a new foundation of European solidarity
where solidarity is shown for different causes, policies and ideologies at the same time. This
development is not separate from the ‘de facto’ solidarity that founded the European project,
but a continuation of it.