Narrative Ju-jitsu: counter-narratives to European union

Recent scholarship has increasingly recognised the crucial role of political narratives in and for European integration. Since its earliest days, supporters have justified integration by telling stories about beneficial contribution to peace, prosperity, democracy. In this article special issue, we contribute burgeoning literature on (counter)narratives ‘union’ (any beyond intergovernmental cooperation), work Euroscepticism. The issue is also at cutting edge research conceptual innovation focus narrating actors concrete instances narration. We demonstrate that a narrative ju-jitsu, opponents union take up themes key pro-integration return their force against EU. As well as examining nationalist Euroscepticism specific countries, study how cooperation among nationalists across Europe encourages convergence counter-narratives. These counter-narratives do not merely reject but argue an alternative kind ‘Europe’. They therefore interact with increasing competition proliferating narratives, which formed old such peace-bringer seem become less convincing.