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The Politicization of European Integration: More than an Elite Affair?

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  • Achim Hurrelmann
  • Anna Gora
  • Andrea Wagner

Abstract

type="main"> A growing literature in research on the European Union (EU) claims that European integration has become comprehensively politicized in the EU's population. The most convincing evidence for this assertion stems from research on political and societal elites – studies of party manifestos, interest groups' activities, news media reporting and the like. By contrast, evidence on politicization trends in the broader citizenry is much more ambiguous. This article raises the question of whether politicization is more than an elite phenomenon. Based on a differentiated conception of politicization, it analyzes focus groups conducted with EU citizens in four member states. It shows that, for most citizens, only the fundamentals of European integration have gained political saliency, while the EU's day-to-day activities remain largely non-politicized. In addition, patterns of politicization in the European population are conditioned by significant knowledge deficits.

Suggested Citation

  • Achim Hurrelmann & Anna Gora & Andrea Wagner, 2015. "The Politicization of European Integration: More than an Elite Affair?," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 63(1), pages 43-59, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:polstu:v:63:y:2015:i:1:p:43-59
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10.1111/1467-9248.12090
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    Cited by:

    1. Johanne Døhlie Saltnes & Markus Thiel, 2021. "The Politicization of LGBTI Human Rights Norms in the EU‐Uganda Development Partnership," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 108-125, January.
    2. Niels Gheyle, 2019. "Conceptualizing the Parliamentarization and Politicization of European Policies," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 227-236.
    3. Brigitte Pircher & Karl Loxbo, 2020. "Compliance with EU Law in Times of Disintegration: Exploring Changes in Transposition and Enforcement in the EU Member States between 1997 and 2016," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 58(5), pages 1270-1287, September.
    4. Hubert Zimmermann, 2019. "The European Parliament and the Layered Politicization of the External Dimension of the Common Fisheries Policy," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 237-247.
    5. Florian Stoeckel & Vittorio Mérola & Jack Thompson & Benjamin Lyons & Jason Reifler, 2024. "Public perceptions and misperceptions of political authority in the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 25(1), pages 42-62, March.
    6. Esther Ademmer & Anna Leupold & Tobias Stöhr, 2019. "Much ado about nothing? The (non-) politicisation of the European Union in social media debates on migration," European Union Politics, , vol. 20(2), pages 305-327, June.
    7. Hutter, Swen & Kriesi, Hanspeter, 2019. "Politicizing Europe in times of crisis," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 26(7), pages 996-1017.
    8. Christine Hackenesch & Julian Bergmann & Jan Orbie, 2021. "Development Policy under Fire? The Politicization of European External Relations," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 3-19, January.
    9. Natalia Chaban & Ole Elgström, 2021. "Politicization of EU Development Policy: The Role of EU External Perceptions (Case of Ukraine)," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 59(1), pages 143-160, January.
    10. C. Nicolai L. Gellwitzki & Anne‐Marie Houde, 2022. "Feeling the Heat: Emotions, Politicization, and the European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(5), pages 1470-1487, September.

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