통합적 유럽 연구를 위한 제언

A Suggestion for a Integrative Study of Europe

This article is to raise a suggestion that Europe as a whole should be assessed academically as a historical unit and as an object of regional studies. The ground for the regional studies of Europe as a whole lies in the necessity to recognize Europe from the perspective of history of a civilization rather than that of nation states. The conventional historical studies or regional studies have frequently lost the sight of recognizing the unity of European civilization because of the fact that it showed a great diversity in history and culture of numerous nation states that consist of Europe. The historical unity of Europe is being emphasized more than ever especially when the integration of European Union is in on-going process. Under these academic and political circumstances, the study of Europe should be based on inter-disciplinary research approaching Europe as a region-state. In order to study Europe as a regional entity, a new research paradigm can be established, that is to say, a transnational approach and the methodology of histoire croisée.