Abstract

Identity refers both to individuals and collectivities. It is the product of a learning process beginning in early childhood and continuing throughout the whole life. Collective identities are the expression of feelings of belonging and the outcome of interaction processes with relevant others involving mutual recognitions and negotiations. The focus is on the territorial dimensions of identity, on how local, national, European and cosmopolitan identity formation is influenced by educational policies and formative experiences. The formation of multiple and flexible identities tends to prevail as a consequence of Europeanization and globalization processes.