The Revival of Dutch Nationalist Narratives as a Threat to European Identity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12797/Politeja.16.2019.63.15Keywords:
The Netherlands, nationalism, Zwarte Piet, Sinterklaas, European identity, United Nations, European UnionAbstract
This article analyses the impact of a recent revival of nationalist narratives in The Netherlands on the issue of European identity. In the past decade, a sensitive and very salient debate has risen around the controversial figure of Zwarte Piet, part of a popular national festival called Sinterklaas. The article explains the nature of this tradition and elaborates on the development of the public debate on the topic. By analysing the defensive reaction towards criticism from Dutch action groups, the European Parliament and the United Nations, the article intends to expose an emphasis on nationalist arguments and invented traditions. It is often argued that the debate has already led to an increase in polarization in the country itself, but the article shows that it could also potentially function as a threat to European identity.
Downloads
References
Bies G., “Premier Rutte: laat intocht Sinterklaas een kinderfeest blijven”, Leeuwarder Courant, 19 November 2017, at <https://www.lc.nl/friesland/Premier-Rutte-laat-intocht-Sinterklaas-een-kinderfeest-blijven-22674483.html?harvest_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.nl%2F>, 12 May 2019.
Hilhorst S., Hermes J., “‘We Have Given up so Much’: Passion and Denial in the Dutch Zwarte Piet (Black Pete) Controversy”, European Journal of Cultural Studies, vol. 19, no. 3 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549415603381. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1367549415603381
Hobsbawm E., Ranger T., The Invention of Tradition, Cambridge 1983.
Koning E., “Zwarte Piet, een blackfacepersonage”, Tijdschrift voor Geschiedenis, vol. 133, no. 4 (2018), https://doi.org/10.5117/TVGESCH2018.4.001.KONI. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5117/TVGESCH2018.4.001.KONI
Laarhoven K. van, “In Dokkum had politie alleen oog voor Zwarte Piet-tegenstanders”, NRC, 29 April 2018, at <https://www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2018/04/29/de-hooligans-konden-gewoon-doorlopen-a1601268>, 12 May 2019.
Lemmens K., “The Dark Side of ‘Zwarte Piet’: A Misunderstood Tradition or Racism in Disguise? A Legal Analysis”, The International Journal of Human Rights, vol. 21, no. 2 (2007), https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2016.1276448. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13642987.2016.1276448
Pugmire Ch., “Siegheilen voor Zwarte Piet”, VICE Nederland, 18 November 2018, at <https://www.vice.com/nl/article/j5zpq4/siegheilen-voor-zwarte-piet>, 12 May 2019.
Raboteau E., “Who is Zwarte Piet?”, Virginia Quarterly Review, vol. 90, no. 1 (2014).
Rademaker G., “Draagvlak voor traditionele Zwarte Piet loopt terug”, EenVandaag, 22 November 2017, at <https://eenvandaag.avrotros.nl/panels/opiniepanel/alle-uitslagen/item/draagvlak-voor-traditionele-zwarte-piet-loopt-terug/>, 15 May 2019.
Reyes A.D., “Performativity and Representation in Transnational Blackface: Mammy (USA), Zwarte Piet (Netherlands), and Haji Firuz (Iran)”, Atlantic Studies, vol. 16, no. 4 (2018), https://doi.org/10.1080/14788810.2018.1490508. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14788810.2018.1490508
Rodenberg J., Wagenaar P., “Essentializing ‘Black Pete’: Competing Narratives Surrounding the Sinterklaas Tradition in the Netherlands”, International Journal of Heritage Studies, vol. 22, no. 9 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2016.1193039. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2016.1193039
Tempelman O., “Tradities in één keer aanpassen? Kleine kans”, De Volkskrant, 30 November 2018, at <https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/tradities-in-een-keer-aanpassen-kleine-kans~be88fb1f/>, 15 May 2019.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.