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Varieties of Euroscepticism and Populist Mobilization: Transforming Attitudes from Mild Euroscepticism to Harsh Eurocynicism

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Abstract

Eurosceptics may differ in intensity, and in their arguments for opposing the European Union (EU), by focusing their critiques on different political targets and/or aspects of Europeanization. The generic label of Euroscepticism may incorporate sceptical, cynical or oppositional attitudes. We try therefore to develop a two-dimensional conceptualization by combining both the targets and the degree of popular discontent towards the EU and European integration. The first axis differentiates between attitudes towards the authorities, the regime and the community, while the second axis differentiates attitudes according to their degree of reflexivity and negativism. Investigating simultaneously both dimensions of political discontent, we can chart different types of Euroscepticism on a sliding scale of political attitudes, which runs from trust, over scepticism to political distrust, cynicism and alienation. In the final section, we show how political entrepreneurs are able to tap into mass attitudes towards the EU and European integration. Given that most citizens do not have fixed views on Europe, populism is capable of feeding a downward spiral from Euroscepticism to more diffuse discontent like Eurocynicism.

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Notes

  1. This assessment is usually referred to as political efficacy, the belief that citizens can influence the political process (Craig and Maggiotto, 1981).

  2. Here, the target is the perceived impact of incremental processes by which European social, economic and political dynamics become part of the logic of national discourse, identities, political structures and public policies (Borneman and Fowler, 1997).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Political Science, De Boelelaan 1081, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, The Netherlands

    André Krouwel

  2. Institute of Social and Political Opinion Research, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Van Evenstraat 2B, Leuven, 3000, Belgium

    Koen Abts

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  1. André Krouwel
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  2. Koen Abts
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Krouwel, A., Abts, K. Varieties of Euroscepticism and Populist Mobilization: Transforming Attitudes from Mild Euroscepticism to Harsh Eurocynicism. Acta Polit 42, 252–270 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500187

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