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

Hajo G. Boomgaarden, Andreas R. T. Schuck, Matthijs Elenbaas and Claes H. de Vreese
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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

European Union Politics, 2011, vol. 12, issue 2, 241-266

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.

Keywords: Affection; Euroscepticism; EU attitudes; multidimensionality; public opinion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:12:y:2011:i:2:p:241-266

DOI: 10.1177/1465116510395411

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