Exploring the political impact of the European North-South divide

ETHNOSCHISM investigates the long-standing ethnotypes that define the contrast between a “manly, rough-hewn” North and a “charming, frivolous” South. The former is framed in its ‘Germanic’ ethnolinguistic roots, while the latter is linked to the ‘Romance’ or Latin tradition. The project traces these stereotypes from their literary-historical origins to their continued presence as a subtle yet influential framework for social and political relations in Europe.

Although these ethnotypes developed over centuries, they were crystallized during World War I and popularized in the 1920s. ETHNOSCHISM examines how these cultural representations, shaped by the political climate of the time, continue to influence political ideologies and national divisions. The project explores how these stereotypes have been used to reinforce political prejudices, particularly during the rise of totalitarian regimes and in the context of inter-European conflicts.

The project offers an innovative, interdisciplinary approach by applying imagology (the study of ethnic stereotyping) to political thought. ETHNOSCHISM shows how ethnic stereotyping served as a cognitive and rhetorical bridge between art, literature, knowledge production, and international conflict. The research moves beyond political symbolism to explore the cultural foundations of nationalism and its role in shaping political ideologies.

In this way, ETHNOSCHISM also addresses the persistent North-South polarity that continues to shape European discourse. This polarity, which often exacerbates political tensions during crises (e.g., economic issues, immigration, or disease control), reveals how stereotypes, once background noise, become politically charged and influence public opinion and government policies.

The project uses a multidisciplinary approach, drawing from the transnational history of national thought, the Discourse Historical Approach (DHA), and imagology. The research examines a broad range of primary sources, including:

• World War I propaganda materials, reflecting the Franco-German opposition through ethnic and national stereotypes.
• Academic and pseudo-scientific texts on national character, particularly in early 20th-century ethnology, psychology, and political science.
• Popular culture materials and media that shaped and disseminated national stereotypes in the 1920s.

ETHNOSCHISM is pioneering in its exploration of the cultural and political dimensions of the European North-South divide, offering fresh insights into the historical and ongoing impact of ethnic stereotypes in shaping European relations.