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Overcoming History through International Organizations - Historical Roots of EU Support and Euroscepticism

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  • Kai Gehring

Abstract

There is little causal evidence about deep-rooted sources of support for shifting power from nation-states to international organizations. Focusing on the European Union, this paper develops the hypothesis that citizens appreciate the role of international organizations in constraining member-states the more, the more negatively their region was historically affected by the actions of nation-states. For identification, I use the historically homogeneous regions of Alsace and Lorraine in France as a natural experiment. A municipal level geographical regression discontinuity design documents that more negative exposure led to persistently higher EU support in three important referenda and less success of Eurosceptic parties in parliamentary elections. This effect is not driven by linguistic differences, migration, socio-economic factors or public good provision, but linked to a stronger European identity. This stronger identity is neither explained by perceived economic benefits, nor comes at the expense of a weaker national or regional identity.

Suggested Citation

  • Kai Gehring, 2019. "Overcoming History through International Organizations - Historical Roots of EU Support and Euroscepticism," CESifo Working Paper Series 7831, CESifo.
    • Handle: RePEc:ces:ceswps:_7831
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sirus H. Dehdari & Kai Gehring, 2022. "The Origins of Common Identity: Evidence from Alsace-Lorraine," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 14(1), pages 261-292, January.
    2. Pauline Grosjean, 2014. "Conflict and Social and Political Preferences: Evidence from World War II and Civil Conflict in 35 European Countries," Comparative Economic Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. 56(3), pages 424-451, September.
    3. Kevin Featherstone, 1994. "Jean Monnet and the ‘Democratic Deficit’ in the European Union," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(2), pages 149-170, June.
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    international organizations; nation-states; repression; persistence; group identity; European Union support; Euroscepticism; European identity;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D70 - Microeconomics - - Analysis of Collective Decision-Making - - - General
    • F50 - International Economics - - International Relations, National Security, and International Political Economy - - - General
    • H70 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - General
    • N24 - Economic History - - Financial Markets and Institutions - - - Europe: 1913-

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