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National identity profiles and support for the European Union

Author

Listed:
  • Julian Aichholzer

    (Department of Government, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria)

  • Sylvia Kritzinger

    (Department of Government, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria)

  • Carolina Plescia

Abstract

Scholars have long recognized that national identity-related factors are among the strongest predictors of citizens’ attitudes toward the European Union. But while some find that they reinforce support for the European Union, other scholars show that national identity undermines its support. In this article, we aim to disentangle this puzzle by studying how the national identity profiles of European citizens relate to support for the European Union across individuals and member states. To this end, we employ data from the International Social Survey Program 2013, by far the most extensive collection of survey questions on national identity, and the technique of latent class analysis. Our results show which specific configurations of national identity entail support, ambivalence or rejection of the European Union, their antecedents, and their variation across countries.

Suggested Citation

  • Julian Aichholzer & Sylvia Kritzinger & Carolina Plescia, 2021. "National identity profiles and support for the European Union," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 293-315, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:22:y:2021:i:2:p:293-315
    DOI: 10.1177/1465116520980068
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Nicholas Clark & Robert Rohrschneider, 2021. "Tracing the development of nationalist attitudes in the EU," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 181-201, June.
    2. Andreas Giannakoulopoulos & Minas Pergantis & Laida Limniati & Alexandros Kouretsis, 2022. "Investigating the Country of Origin and the Role of the .eu TLD in External Trade of European Union Member States," Future Internet, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-27, June.
    3. K Amber Curtis & Steven V Miller, 2021. "A (supra)nationalist personality? The Big Five’s effects on political-territorial identification," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 202-226, June.
    4. Russell J Dalton, 2021. "National/European identities and political alignments," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 340-350, June.
    5. Wouter van der Brug & Eelco Harteveld, 2021. "The conditional effects of the refugee crisis on immigration attitudes and nationalism," European Union Politics, , vol. 22(2), pages 227-247, June.

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