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Discontent and European Identity: Three Types of Euroscepticism

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Abstract

In the last decade, support for European integration has declined and euroscepticism has risen. Using Easton's concept of political support, this paper studies the interrelationship between euroscepticism and European identity. Starting from the hypothesis that identity as a central element of political community serves as a buffer against system-threatening euroscepticism, I develop a hierarchical model of euroscepticism. My results demonstrate that there are three types of eurosceptics, two of which hold opposite implications for European integration — demand for improvement vs a halt to or even an abolishment of European integration. The difference between both types is that the first group has a European identity, while the other does not. I conclude that the large size of the eurosceptic camp challenges European integration.

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Notes

  1. This is a revised version of a paper presented at the conference on ‘Euroscepticism — Causes and Consequences’, organized by Liesbet Hooghe and Gary Marks, 1–2 July 2005, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. The author wants to thank the participants for constructive comments and, in particular, Liesbet Hooghe for extensive comments.

  2. The early data use has been made possible by the director of EOS Gallup, M. Pascal Chelala.

  3. This is not a trivial difference. Empirical results on support cannot be transformed into results on political scepticism by merely reversing the interpretations. Both support and scepticism imply explicit attitudes while indifference implies none. One may find little support, but also little scepticism so long as indifference is very high.

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  1. Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB), Reichpietschufer 50, Berlin, D-10785, Germany

    Bernhard Weßels

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  1. Bernhard Weßels
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Weßels, B. Discontent and European Identity: Three Types of Euroscepticism. Acta Polit 42, 287–306 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500188

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