Working Papers,
University of Aarhus, Aarhus School of Business, Department of Management

Abstract: On the 1st of January 1993 the territory covered by the European Union member states became the Single European Market (SEM). The political and economic implications of this transformation have been analyzed by many political scientists and economists. Sociologists have been much less interested in the matter, probably because it looks like an exclusively 'technical' one. However, such a 'technical' matter has also had deep social consequences. From its early beginning the professional category of the customs officials, for example, has been influenced very strongly by the European integration process. Nonetheless, the transformation of the customs official's occupational role from a purely national to a supranational one has not been automatic. It has gone through a long process of redefinition, which faced the resistance of the officials and of the institutions they belong to. During the study an international comparison between two very different cases: Italy and Denmark, has been carried out. The objective was to collect the broadest possible pattern of reactions, with the aim of understanding the dynamics that can lead to the redefinition of personal affiliations and allegiances. Through the professional role, in fact, actors define their personal identity. An important change in such a central role, provokes a general readjustment of all their attitudes and behaviors. Moreover, it forces them to redefine the meaning they attribute to different socio-territorial entities such as the nation-state or the European Union.

To conclude the presentation of the research and on the basis of its findings, some general hypothesis about how a personal identification with the European union could emerge in broader parts of the national societies will be formulated.

Keywords: Sociology; Customs administration; EU; European Union

17 pages, January 1, 2000

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