Identitet och regional politik i EU : En kritisk diskursanalys av identiteter i EU:s sammanhållningspolitik för regionerna

Sammanfattning: The cohesion policy of the European union has for a long time been a significant factor in the work to strengthen its many and diverse regions. A key distinction has been the question of regional identity. Comparing similar documents adressing regional development over time, one can note that the question of identity has changed of the years, from talking about conserving the diversity of regional identites to promoting a more european one. This study uses a critical discourse analysis to examine the different characteristics of the various discourses with the use of policy and research reports from the European Comission and the recently finished ”COHESIFY”- project. To analyze the material the study has used a theory laid out by Anna De Fina, Michael Bamberg and Deborah Schiffrin that focus on the creation of identity through discourse. This has been done in regards to the subject of identity and its close connection to the critical discourse method that they, aswell as I use as a framework for conducting this analysis. The results show that there are two distinct discourses in the analyzed material. They both rests on the assumption of increasing the quality of life in the regions where issues of social and economic approaches become significant. Before 2016 the discourse expressed an understanding that talked about the region's unique and diverse identity in relation to commercialization and cultural uniformity. After Brexit, the narrative of increased national and populist voices began to rise both within and outside the EU. The discourses now expressed an understanding of regional identity that was intrested in an increased European identity which was reinforced by the investments that the EU has worked with in the regions for a long time.