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| A number of nations outside of Europe were originally established as colonies of European countries. Many of those nations retain a dominant "European culture" - that is a population whose ancestry, language and culture is largely derived from their European predecessors. | A number of nations outside of Europe were originally established as colonies of European countries. Many of those nations retain a dominant "European culture" - that is a population whose ancestry, language and culture is largely derived from their European predecessors. | ||
| European is particularly common as an ethnic descriptor for those populations. A good example of this is the ], to identify a person from the ] with European ancestry. While generally established by particular European countries, the immigration policy of these colonies has often been very open and inclusive towards other European nations, and thus a "European" identity has been preferred by government and social institutions over narrower categories such as ], ] or ]. | European is particularly common as an ethnic descriptor for those populations. A good example of this is the ], to identify a person from the ] with European ancestry. While generally established by particular European countries, the immigration policy of these colonies has often been very open and inclusive towards other European nations, and thus a "European" identity has been preferred by government and social institutions over narrower categories such as ], ] or ]. In the ], it is rare to call people of European ancestry "European." Such people are sometimes called "caucasian" or "white," but more generally are labelled by the nation their ancestors are from (e.g., Irish Americans). | ||
| ==The European Union== | ==The European Union== | ||
Revision as of 05:10, 10 July 2007
A European is primarily a person who was born into one of the countries within the continent of Europe. Additionally, a person can also become a naturalized European by taking citizenship within a European country. A number of people, who were not born in Europe or hold citizenship there, identify themselves as European due to a strong sense of identification with their European ancestry, language and/or culture.
Identity and Culture
A number of nations outside of Europe were originally established as colonies of European countries. Many of those nations retain a dominant "European culture" - that is a population whose ancestry, language and culture is largely derived from their European predecessors.
European is particularly common as an ethnic descriptor for those populations. A good example of this is the European American, to identify a person from the United States with European ancestry. While generally established by particular European countries, the immigration policy of these colonies has often been very open and inclusive towards other European nations, and thus a "European" identity has been preferred by government and social institutions over narrower categories such as English, British or German. In the United States, it is rare to call people of European ancestry "European." Such people are sometimes called "caucasian" or "white," but more generally are labelled by the nation their ancestors are from (e.g., Irish Americans).
The European Union
With the European Union, a great deal of importance has been put on promoting a "Single European Identity" throughout member states. It is unclear whether this ideal has or can be achieved, due to the many different languages and cultures throughout the EU's member states. The United Kingdom has been particularly resistant in this area. Many British people do not identify themselves as European and thus a strong identification with their neighbours on the continent has been difficult to foster.
Distribution
For a list of European nations, see Europe.
Nations and regions outside of Europe with significant populations of European ancestry:
- United States of America (European American)
- Asiatic Russia
- Canada
- Argentina
- Uruguay
- South Africa (Afrikaner)
- Zimbabwe
- Australia
- New Zealand (New Zealand European)
- Latin America
- Israel