The construction of national and European identity in Czech society: a generational perspective

The diploma thesis examines how Czech national identity is formed and how it relates to European identity. The aim is to explore how people experience Czech national identity in everyday life, with a focus on their personal feelings and on differences between generations. The research is based on qualitative methods, using autobiographical interviews and photo- elicitation. The verbal and visual data are analysed through thematic and semiotic analysis and are then interpreted together. This approach makes it possible to see not only how participants talk about identity, but also how they express it symbolically. The results show that national identity is mainly experienced in everyday situations, not only within formal or institutional contexts. The interviews revealed that identity is changeable and closely linked to personal meanings and memories. National identity is most often connected with culture, daily activities, history, countryside and a sense of belonging, while new, individually shaped forms of identity also appear. National and European identity are not only seen as opposites but are often closely connected. The qualitative approach therefore shows how identity is created "from below", through the everyday experiences of individuals.