Public Opinion on EU Support

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Questions and Answers

What aspect of identity does the EU primarily focus on when considering member state populations?

Rejection of national identities

Complete assimilation into a single identity

Coexistence with national identities (correct)

Replacement of national identities

What is the primary method used to gauge public opinion about the EU?

Focus Groups

Expert Interviews

Voting

Surveys (correct)

Which religious tradition is suggested as a solid basis for defining European identity?

Islam

Buddhism

(Judeo-)Christianity (correct)

Hinduism

What is a primary challenge to forming a European identity in multicultural societies?

Compatibility with different cultural identities Signup and view all the answers

Which age group is more likely to view the EU favorably?

Younger individuals Signup and view all the answers

What does monocausality refer to in the context of public opinion on the EU?

The idea that there is one main reason for EU support Signup and view all the answers

How is a civic European identity promoted by European institutions?

Through symbols, discourse, and EU citizenship Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an interest-based explanation for support of the EU?

Public perception of the EU's democratic status Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the primary roles of the media in open societies regarding political processes?

Generating 'imagined communities' Signup and view all the answers

What impact do language differences have on the European media space?

They contribute to fragmentation Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the correlation between support and opposition to the EU?

There is a strong but not perfect inverse correlation Signup and view all the answers

In what manner do the internet and social media influence the European public sphere?

By having both unifying and divisive effects Signup and view all the answers

What plays a significant role in shaping ideas about the EU?

Communication and discursive effectiveness Signup and view all the answers

What values should a civic European identity be linked to according to the content?

Liberal-democracy, peace, tolerance, rule of law Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic does NOT describe the legitimacy of supranational institutions in the EU?

They are immune to public opinion Signup and view all the answers

What is a common feature among 'supporters' of the EU?

They exhibit diversity in their reasons for support Signup and view all the answers

What has been a primary focus of the European integration story?

Diplomatic history marked by treaties Signup and view all the answers

What sector did the process of European integration initially focus on?

Coal and steel production Signup and view all the answers

What concept explains the gradual pooling of competences by member states?

Sectoral integration Signup and view all the answers

Which event is cited as a potential factor in slowing down vertical integration?

The Eurozone crisis Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred to the EU's membership in 2020?

The first loss of a member state due to Brexit Signup and view all the answers

What has become increasingly challenging as the EU has expanded?

Ensuring all member states cooperate entirely Signup and view all the answers

Which theory was inspired by the progressive sectoral integration of the EU?

Neo-functionalism Signup and view all the answers

How many member states were there in the EU before the Brexit event?

28 Signup and view all the answers

What was a significant outcome of the Van Gend en Loos case in 1962?

Established the principle of direct effect. Signup and view all the answers

Which case is associated with the supremacy of EU law?

Costa v ENEL Signup and view all the answers

What does positive integration entail in the context of the EU?

Creating shared institutions and competences. Signup and view all the answers

How can negative integration be best described?

Removing existing barriers between states. Signup and view all the answers

What trend has been observed regarding the Court of Justice of the EU in recent years?

A tendency towards greater national sovereignty. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines the term 'political economy' in the context of the EU?

The interaction between political and economic spheres. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of EU institutions, which concept refers to actions that lead to the establishment of shared competences?

Positive integration Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following cases indicated a reversal of the Court’s previous approach?

Dano Signup and view all the answers

What significant change occurred as a result of the Covid-19 crisis regarding the SGP?

The suspension of the SGP to allow increased spending. Signup and view all the answers

Which initiative was introduced to support economic recovery following the Covid-19 crisis?

The Next Generation EU (NGEU) package. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Draghi report advocate for in terms of fiscal policy?

More common joint borrowing for investments. Signup and view all the answers

What field does integration theory belong to within political science?

The explanation of integration among nation-states. Signup and view all the answers

Which document is most famously associated with the political doctrine of European federalism?

The Ventotene manifesto. Signup and view all the answers

What has been a significant effect of integration theory on the field of political science?

The influence of real-world developments on theoretical debates. Signup and view all the answers

How is federalism characterized in relation to political science?

As a political manifesto and normative theory. Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary aim of the Ventotene manifesto?

To establish a federation to prevent war and oppression. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Measuring Support for the EU

Measuring support for the EU is critical for European institutions, policymakers, and researchers.
Voting provides information about public opinion, but it’s a rough and infrequent measure.
Surveys are the primary way to gauge public opinion, with Eurobarometer being a key tool for the EU.
There is a strong inverse correlation between positive and negative views of the EU by country.
Age strongly influences support for the EU, with younger people being more likely to view it favorably.

Explaining Support for the EU

Public opinion on the EU is shaped by multiple factors, often overlapping in complex ways.
Interest-based explanations focus on material benefits, including net contributors vs. receivers, economic sectors, and skilled vs. unskilled workers.
Ideas-based explanations consider opinions and ideas independent of material benefits.
Ideas can affect support through democratic vs. technocratic status, legitimacy of supranational institutions, political economy, and institutional trust.
Communication plays a vital role in shaping ideas, including the effectiveness of populist and Eurosceptic messages.

The EU and Identity

The question of European identity focuses on the extent to which member state populations identify with the EU.
Integration occurs among countries with strong national identities, often defined by language and religion.
A European identity aims to coexist with national identities, not replace them.
A civic European identity, based on values like liberal democracy, peace, tolerance, and the rule of law, is promoted by European institutions.

The Role of the Media

The media plays a crucial role in the political process, acting as a primary carrier of public communication.
The media influences all three causal pathways: information transmission, shaping ideas, frames, and discourses, and generating imagined communities.
The European media space remains fragmented, with language differences creating barriers.
The internet and social media have an ambiguous role, potentially overcoming fragmentation but also reinforcing divisive and anti-EU discourses.

Historical Narratives

The history of European integration is characterized by "history-making" moments, primarily embodied in treaties.
This history can be understood through connecting narratives or trajectories that help synthesize different parts of the story.

Sectoral Integration

The history of integration revolves around member states pooling or sharing competences at a supranational level.
Integration began in coal and steel production and gradually expanded to more sectors over time.
The EU now operates in virtually all public policy sectors.
Progressive sectoral integration has been influential in EU studies, inspiring neo-functionalism.

Vertical Integration

As integration has expanded, it has also involved increasing centralization.
Competence transfer is not an "all or nothing" process, with varying degrees of sovereignty transfer.
Vertical integration has proceeded at different paces in different areas.
Some argue that vertical integration has slowed down or ended, starting with the Eurozone crisis.

Geographic Expansion

The EU has grown from six founding members to 28 (as of 2013).
Croatia joined the EU in 2013.
The UK left the EU in 2020, reducing the membership to 27.

Differentiation

As the EU has grown and integrated, it has become more challenging for member states to move together.

The CJEU and Integration

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has played a crucial role in the development of EU institutions towards greater integration and supranationalism.
Key CJEU judgments include Van Gend en Loos on direct effect and Costa v ENEL on supremacy.
Some argue that there are recent signals of a shift away from "judicial activism" by the Court.

The EU’s Political Economy

Political economy refers to the intersection between political and economic spheres.
European integration is more advanced in economic areas, making political economy a prominent aspect of EU studies.
The Single Market and the Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) are key areas of the EU's political economy.

Positive vs. Negative Integration

Positive and negative integration are two ways in which European societies can be integrated:
- Negative integration involves removing barriers between societies.
- Positive integration involves building shared institutions and competences.

Theories of Integration

Integration theory aims to explain the process of integration among nation-states and its transformations.
Integration theory is closely connected to the development of the EU, with theoretical debates influenced by real-world developments.

Federalism

European federalism was a political doctrine developed during WWII as a project for post-war Europe.
The Ventotene manifesto, written by Altiero Spinelli and Ernesto Rossi, advocated for a Europe-wide federation.
Federalism is more a normative theory and a political manifesto than an explanatory theory.

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Description

This quiz delves into the factors influencing public opinion on the European Union, focusing on survey methodologies like Eurobarometer and the impact of demographics. It explores the complex interplay between material benefits and ideological perceptions of the EU across different age groups and countries.