The Heroes and Villains of an Alternative Europe – How EU Contestation shapes Narratives of Europe in Germany1

This article analyzes the contribution of EU contestation to a (counter-)narrative of Europe. Drawing on theories of Euroskepticism, the article argues that EU contestation need not be based on an outright rejection of European integration. Indeed, it may make a constructive contribution to an alternative vision of Europe, promoting values such as solidarity, democracy, human rights or environmental protection. The empirical analysis supports this argument by showing how EU contestation in the German context has evoked images of what may be described as the “heroes” and “villains” of an alternative Europe.