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Mapping EU attitudes: Conceptual and empirical dimensions of Euroscepticism and EU support

Author

Listed:
  • Hajo G. Boomgaarden

    (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands, H.Boomgaarden@uva.nl)

  • Andreas R. T. Schuck

    (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Matthijs Elenbaas

    (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

  • Claes H. de Vreese

    (University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands)

Abstract

Public attitudes towards the European Union (EU) are at the heart of a growing body of research. The nature, structure and antecedents of these attitudes, however, are in need of conceptual and empirical refinement. With growing diversification of the policies of the Union, a one-dimensional approach to attitudes towards the EU may be insufficient. This study reviews existing approaches towards theorizing EU public opinion. Based on this inventory, originally collected public opinion survey data (n = 1394) indicate the presence of five dimensions of EU attitudes: performance, identity, affection, utilitarianism and strengthening. The study furthermore shows that different predictors of EU public opinion matter to differing extents when explaining these dimensions. In light of these findings, we suggest tightening the link, conceptually and empirically, between attitudinal dimensions and their antecedents.

Suggested Citation

  • Hajo G. Boomgaarden & Andreas R. T. Schuck & Matthijs Elenbaas & Claes H. de Vreese, 2011. "Mapping EU attitudes: Conceptual and empirical dimensions of Euroscepticism and EU support," European Union Politics, , vol. 12(2), pages 241-266, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:12:y:2011:i:2:p:241-266
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116510395411
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    10. Sharon Baute & Bart Meuleman & Koen Abts & Marc Swyngedouw, 2018. "Measuring Attitudes Towards Social Europe: A Multidimensional Approach," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 137(1), pages 353-378, May.
    11. Jan Kleinnijenhuis & Wouter van Atteveldt, 2016. "The Impact of the Explosion of EU News on Voter Choice in the 2014 EU Elections," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 104-115.
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    14. Lechler, Marie, 2018. "Employment Shocks and anti-EU Sentiment," Discussion Papers in Economics 49414, University of Munich, Department of Economics.
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    16. Cigdem Kentmen-Cin, 2017. "What about Ambivalence and Indifference? Rethinking the Effects of European Attitudes on Voter Turnout in European Parliament Elections," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 55(6), pages 1343-1359, November.
    17. Matthias Ecker-Ehrhardt, 2018. "Self-legitimation in the face of politicization: Why international organizations centralized public communication," The Review of International Organizations, Springer, vol. 13(4), pages 519-546, December.
    18. Giancarlo Manzi & Sonia Stefanizzi & Pier Alda Ferrari, 2016. "In the end, will we all be Europeans? A two-phase analysis of citizens’ sentiment towards the EU," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 50(6), pages 2535-2551, November.
    19. Lechler, Marie, 2019. "Employment shocks and anti-EU sentiment," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 266-295.
    20. Jürgen Maier & Berthold Rittberger & Thorsten Faas, 2016. "Debating Europe: Effects of the “Eurovision Debate” on EU Attitudes of Young German Voters and the Moderating Role Played by Political Involvement," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 55-68.
    21. Zlatko Å ram, 2016. "The Effects of Political Cynicism and National Siege Mentality on the Internalization of an Anti-European Sentiment," International Journal of Business and Social Research, MIR Center for Socio-Economic Research, vol. 6(1), pages 22-31, January.

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