From Polarized We/They Public Opinion on European Integration Towards Social Representations of Public Dialogue

Dados Bibliográficos

ID7972008
AutoresKesi Mahendran (0000-0002-3931-3026, The Open University, autor correspondente)
Ano2018
Volume39
Fascículo6
Páginas1339-1355
Data de publicação2018-12-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoPolitical Psychology (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0162-895X • E-ISSN: 1467-9221
EditoraWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/pops.12549
OpenAlexW2901044300
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas15
Referências citadas46

Social psychology has established that oppositional we/they categorization is central to dis/identification with European integration (Chryssochoou, 2000; Hewstone, 1986; Mummendey & Walduz, 2004). As Europe faces fresh uncertainties, for example, Brexit, this article reveals the multipositional features of public‐opinion formation. Drawing on meta‐representational approaches, it reveals how we/they categorization moves from oppositional forms towards diplomatic nonoppositional forms when citizens speak about the general public in “a public capacity” (Dewey, 1927/1954). Two interview‐led studies in England, Ireland, Germany, Scotland, and Sweden ( n = 100) brought participants into dialogue with the ideals of European integration. Analysis reveals six dialogical positions on the general public—avant‐garde, advocating, homesteading, distancing, segmenting, and progressive. These rest on social representations of the public as having freedom from movement, freedom of movement, and freedom through movement. Understanding the public’s multipositional capacities and the interplay between self‐world narratives and European integration narratives is one step towards depolarization and public dialogue on Europe

Brexit · Categorization · Dialogical self · Epistemology · European integration · European union · Linguistics · Narrative · Political science · Politics · Public opinion · Social dialogue · Social movement · Sociology · Community Health and Development · Law · Psychology · Social and Cultural Dynamics · Social Psychology · Social Representations and Identity