The challenge of Europe - The formation of theories in cultural studies and folklore studies in the light of European integration

The European dimension of cultural phenomena becomes more and more important in Cultural Sciences. In relation with this there also exists a theoretical challenge. Sociology is in a similar situation. Due to the process of European integration the paradigm of society is being reconsidered. Society can't be only considered, according to the critics, from inside and isolated as it was until now. It's only possible to analyse social life, it the outside-relations of society are also taken into account. In this article, this perspective is approached through a critical reading of Hegel's concept of state and society. Using his concept, we can evaluate the relationship between citizens, cooperations, nation-states and European Union in a new way and introduce the findings into Cultural Sciences.