Hi all!
UPD: thank you all for insightful answers. I am even more confused, but I find fascinating how fluctuating and alive the concept of Europe seems to be, reflecting the relationships between countries, geography, cultural context and even languages. Seems to be a valid PhD topic! Cheers!
I have an ultimately silly question for the thread, but I think it might be the best place to ask about it. I come from Russia and lived in Europe for around 6-7 years. And last weekend I realized I don’t know what do Europeans normally mean when mentioning Europe. Is it EEA? EU?
I’ve mentioned in a random convo that sometime in 2000s Moscow was one of the most expensive cities in Europe, and I was told off that I should not ever say it like that.
I was taught at school back in Russia that Europe is a continent, and the division lies between tectonic plates or something. That means, that there’s a European and Asian parts of Russia, like there are 2 sides of Istanbul sitting on two continents.
I understand, in Europe the most common understanding in Europe is not geographical, but, perhaps, political?
Is Belarus Europe? (I would say yes?) Then what about transcontinental countries? Like, Georgia is Europe and Azerbaijan is not? What about Armenia? (I’ve heard both interpretations).
Right now, my gut feeling is that all transcontinental countries kinda chose their sides? (Like, Georgia chooses European integration and Azerbaijan doesn’t). Could it be most common religion? (Doesn’t quite work tho?)
I’m only asking to clear my confusion, not to bait. I’m not suggesting anything. There’s a difference in education, and knowing how biased post-soviet education, I think I need to understand the conversation better.
Upd: typo on the subject linem
Russia is in Europe.
With regard to transnational countries, it’s a blend of geography, geopolitical and cultural ties.
Russia’s capital is in Europe, it has a Indo-European language for its government, like most other sovereign European countries (some of them have Ugric or even Vasconian, though), and has historically been culturally pretty western. The East is Asian, but because of the former factors, I view Russia as a European country.
The Caucasus countries have been historically part of the former Soviet Union, and are also majorly focused on Europe. Only one speaks an IE language, though (Armenia).
Turkey has its capital not anymore in Europe, doesn’t speak an IE or Ugric language, isn’t focused much on the west except for strategical reasons, but it does have a part in Europe, and so it’s a bit iffy.
Greenland is geographically in another continent, but for all intents and purposes, much like Cyprus, it’s very much European - due to its ties being very close to it. Both have a European focus, with an IE language being official, and geographically also are at least in proximity (unlike Australia or New Zealand).
Religion only plays a role insofar there is a historical past shared sense of Christianity - but in my view, more modernly, is that of a secular, maybe laïcised Europe. Bosnians and Albanians are Muslim, but you’d be hard-pressed to view them as anything but just like the Catholics and Orthodoxes around them. Europe is more than which choir you listen to; Europe is a combination of elements.
Thank you very much for the detailed answer and also for bringing in the linguistic perspective into it!