The Politics of Belonging at the Eurovision Song Contest

This paper considers how the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) sits at a crossroads of political denial and political intent, seemingly distanced from, but essentially instrumental in, political change. It will consider how this popular media event has used music and the performance of identity as a conduit through which a sense of European identity and belonging has been established and challenged. Furthermore, it asks “how has Eurovision impacted on the social, cultural and political landscape of Europe via a merging of music and politics?”