Foreword to the special edition, the return to Europe: a generation of re-inventing national identities

Purpose Readers from outside the region may not be familiar with the subject matter, therefore, the purpose of this paper is to serve as a foundation for the further reading and appreciation of the submitted manuscripts. Design/methodology/approach Based on a pertinent literature review, the foreword addresses the general subject matter of this special edition. The approach used was to introduce the reader to the contents as well as to complement and introduce the contributions. Findings The literature review substantiates the varied positions adopted and exposed by the contributing authors. Originality/value The contents are derived from original research. The value, as mentioned above, positions the reader to better understand the subject matter at hand.