Public Support for European Integration: An Empirical Test of Five Theories

1998/05/01 by Matthew J. Gabel, Matthew Gabel · 888 citations
Business, Management and Accounting · Psychology · Social Sciences · #Context (archaeology) #Economics #Electoral Systems and Political Participation #Eurobarometer #European Union Policy and Governance #European integration #European union #Law #Political Influence and Corporate Strategies #Political science #Politics #Positive economics #Psychology #Public opinion #Public relations #Public support #Social psychology #Test (biology) #Variation (astronomy) #Variety (cybernetics)

paper · doi:10.2307/2647912

published in The Journal of Politics 60(2), 333-354 (University of Chicago Press)

openalex publication_date 1998/05/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30

Abstract

Public opinion, through its impact on mass behavior, shapes and constrains the process of European integration Why do citizens vary in their support for European integration? Previous research offers a variety of sometimes conflicting explanations, but the available evidence is insufficient to determine which explanations are valid. This article seeks to contribute to the resolution of this controversy by empirically examining five prominent theories of support for integration. Through regression analyses of Eurobarometer surveys from the period 1978-1992, the analysis shows that the partisan context of integrative reforms and the utilitarian consequences of integrative policy provide robust explanations for variation in support. In contrast, two other prominent theories-political values and cognitive mobilization-are only valid in a limited context, and in this context they exert a small substantive impact on support.

Citations

• What To Do (and Not to Do) with Time-Series Cross-Section Data
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