European Identity question

I think we identify at different levels - we identify with our families (close and extended), with our locality, with our region, with our nationality, with our continent (ie, Europe), and finally with 'the Earth'. We also 'cross-identify' by ethnicity (and gender) (and religion).

Ethnicity and nationality often coexist (eg, Japan, where over 90% of the population is 'ethnically Japanese' - however that is defined!), but often don't. (The Balkans are, of course, the uber-example of this in Europe!).

Then, with regards to ethnicity, we have the incredibly thorny issue of 'date of arrival'.....and 'new ethnic groups' that are not from anywhere within Europe, will have their own unique national identity issues surrounding them.

(As a corollary, we also have the issue of emigrated Europeans who have made them homes in other continents - how much do they still regard themselves as either European or their original nationality?)

Can we belong to a European nationality and be European? Yes, of course. That's what I am!

I think, and hope, that the nation state persists, and I see no reason why it shouldn't. That said, as a Brit, my 'national status' is fairly easy to define (even if 'which bit' of the British Isles I identify with is less so)(are 'emigre' Welsh living in London 'still Welsh' etc). When it comes to the Balkans, that's a lot more complicated!

Albania is such an interesting nation state! To me, the most interesting aspect is not its place within the highly complicated Balkan tapestry, but that it represents the 'ebbing tide' of the Ottoman empire, as though it got 'stranded' within Europe as the Ottomans were finally pushed out of Europe. (Except for Istanbul of course!!!!!!). To me it is interesting that the mass of the Albanian population converted to Islam at all - I appreciate that the Ottomans encouraged, or at least, incentivised, conversion, because of the tax advantages to Muslims within the empire, but just why it was so popular in Albania I don't know? Maybe Christianty was weaker, or perhaps riven between Catholocism and Orthodoxy (qua Croats and Serbs)?? I must read up on it!

Again, Istanbul itself is an 'issue' in respect of both nation-state identity (Turkey) split across continental identity (Europe/Asia Minor)? So do the Istanbul-ese feel themselves European or Asia Minor-ian?

And what about Russians? Is Russia per se all within Europe (ie, this side of the Urals), or does it straddle Europe and Central Asia? Similar may apply to places like Georgia etc??