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A blessing and a curse? Examining public preferences for differentiated integration

Author

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  • Lisanne De Blok
  • Catherine E. De Vries

Abstract

This study examines public preferences for two forms of differentiated integration (DI): opt-outs and multi-speed EU. Due to the low salience of DI in domestic politics, we suggest that people use ideological benchmarks when forming opinions about DI mostly relating to their general predispositions towards the EU. While pro-EU citizens are more in favor of DI in the form of multiple speeds as this might pose a solution to overcome gridlock, Euroskeptic citizens display more support for opt-outs as a means to accommodate concerns about national identity and control. These differences are in turn accentuated by people’s left-right ideology. We test our hypotheses using public opinion data from the Eurobarometer between 2004 and 2018 and complete it with novel survey data. Our results suggest that while support for DI has increased in recent years, DI preferences largely coincide with ideological predispositions. Our findings indicate that rather than overcoming preference heterogeneity within the EU, DI might entrench existing fault lines.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisanne De Blok & Catherine E. De Vries, 2023. "A blessing and a curse? Examining public preferences for differentiated integration," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 143-163, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:eeupol:v:24:y:2023:i:1:p:143-163
    DOI: 10.1177/14651165221133671
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marks, Gary & Wilson, Carole J., 2000. "The Past in the Present: A Cleavage Theory of Party Response to European Integration," British Journal of Political Science, Cambridge University Press, vol. 30(3), pages 433-459, July.
    2. Julian Schuessler & Max Heermann & Dirk Leuffen & Lisanne De Blok & Catherine E De Vries, 2023. "Mapping public support for the varieties of differentiated integration," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 164-183, March.
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    5. Ioannis Vergioglou & Sven Hegewald, 2023. "From causes to consequences: Investigating the effects of differentiated integration on citizens’ EU support," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 206-224, March.
    6. Frank Schimmelfennig & Dirk Leuffen & Catherine E De Vries, 2023. "Differentiated integration in the European Union: Institutional effects, public opinion, and alternative flexibility arrangements," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 3-20, March.
    7. Stefan Telle & Lisanne de Blok & Catherine E. de Vries & Lorenzo Cicchi, 2022. "Elite‐Mass Linkages in the Preference Formation on Differentiated Integration," Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 60(6), pages 1663-1683, November.
    8. De Vries, Catherine E. & Hobolt, Sara B. & Walter, Stefanie, 2021. "Politicizing International Cooperation: The Mass Public, Political Entrepreneurs, and Political Opportunity Structures," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 75(2), pages 306-332, February.
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    Cited by:

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    6. Frank Schimmelfennig & Dirk Leuffen & Catherine E De Vries, 2023. "Differentiated integration in the European Union: Institutional effects, public opinion, and alternative flexibility arrangements," European Union Politics, , vol. 24(1), pages 3-20, March.

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