Introduction

Abstract This chapter explains the argument, purpose, approach, and structure of this book. The book aims to develop the idea of constitutional identity abuse in the specific context of the European Union. This chapter elaborates on the central concepts and themes of the book and provides additional background to the rationale behind the argument that drives it. It furthermore explains the relevance of the idea of constitutional identity abuse in the context of relevant literature, and explains the three conceptual dimensions (generative, substantive, and relational) that will drive this book’s approach to constitutional identity abuse: constitutional identity claims can be abusive by virtue of how they have come about (the generative dimension), by virtue of their substantive content (the substantive dimension), and by virtue of how they are advanced (the relational dimension).