ABSTRACT
System integration means the economic and political order, while social integration refers to socio-cultural standards of society. In this chapter societal developments are analysed, which lead to a huge gap between economic and political strategies favouring standardization in Europe and the opinions of individuals, representing diversity within and between European Nations. In order to clarify the influence of societal conditions on the attitudes of European citizens, it is necessary to refer to the dichotomy of system integration and social integration as presented by Lockwood. The perceived problems of global risks increase the pressure for cooperation and lead to efforts at worldwide crisis intervention, but the threats in the context of a risk society transgress borders, can no longer be related to specific nations or regions, and produce a global culture of fear. In this chapter the topics of diversity and standardization in Europe are addressed in two ways.
