European society and its antagonists

This article answers the four questions posed in this issue by showing how antagonists of the European Union shape it. The article does so through the concept of ‘European society’, read via Simmel’s conflict theory, proposing it as a legally grounded and sociologically plausible term that synthesizes 70 years of European integration. Antagonists have not disintegrated European society, but have rather propelled it, despite their likely intentions. By substantiating this claim, the article answers the leading questions: what does Europe stand for? And what is its place in the wider world? On the question of how to enhance Europe’s collective agency, it suggests that ‘society’ does so by providing a helpful ‘collective singular’ that grasps the collective of the Europeans. As for the role of EU law and EU lawyers, the article defends ‘integration through law’. EU lawyers can and should continue developing innovations that serve ever closer union.