Regional Understanding of Europe Focusing on Ethnic Groups

Abstract

Regional understanding of Europe has conventionally focused on regional diversity of the natural environment and culture, as well as political and economic integration by the EU. On the other hand, understanding of so-called ethnic groups such as immigrants and refugees remains low. Although they are a group with their own history and culture, opportunities to understand from their perspective are surprisingly limited. For example, geography studies in junior and senior high schools also cover their influx, but they are positioned as groups that joined Europe from elsewhere, and it remains difficult to understand them. However, their presence is essential to understanding of Europe, where the number of foreigners is increasing, and it will be necessary to present a new perspective for this purpose. Here, possibility of regional understanding focusing on ethnic groups is discussed.