title: Introduction
abstract: This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book discusses the politics of legitimating the European Union (EU). It traces the gradual emergence of citizens from the shadows into the foreground of the politics of the Union and of theories of European integration. The book then demonstrates that fear, hope, doubt, love, hate, identity, indifference and trust are all part of a cocktail of emotions that influence how claims to le