National Identity and Support for European Integration

Abstract

This paper takes up the familiar question of how one can explain support for European\nintegration. One line of explanation builds on trade theory to theorize a calculus of\neconomic costs and benefits. A second explanation draws on cognitive and social\npsychology to assess how individuals use political cues—grounded in ideology or elite\ncommunication—as a guide to complex issues. A third line draws on the psychology of\ngroup membership to consider how group identities, above all, national identities, bear on\nsupport for European integration. We use multi-level analysis to evaluate these\nexplanations, and we conclude that perceptions of national identity are by far most\npowerful in structuring views on European integration. We find that the particular\nperception of national identity matters, as well as how identity is mobilized in national\ncontexts. Thus, while strong national identity is consistent with support for European\nintegration, exclusive national identity is a powerful brake on support. The effect of\nexclusive national identity varies across countries. It is strongest in countries where\nreferenda on European integration have taken place. Referenda exacerbate conflicts within\nand among elites and empower single-issue anti-European protest movements, and this\nmobilizes exclusive national identity in an anti-European direction.

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