Understanding EU Attitudes in Multi-Level Governance Contexts

A Social Identity Perspective

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6407329
AutoresFrank Mols (0000-0003-2472-2131), Alexander Haslam (0000-0001-9523-7921)
Año2008
Volumen31
Número3
Páginas442-463
Fecha de publicación2008-05-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaWest European Politics (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0140-2382 • E-ISSN: 1743-9655
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01402380801939693
OpenAlexW2046622410
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas9
Referencias citadas54

The present research examines the way in which politicians' attitudes towards the EU are affected by comparative identity processes. Interviews among regional politicians in two peripheral regions in the UK (Study 1: Wales and Cornwall) and two peripheral regions in the Netherlands (Study 2: Friesland and Limburg) show that when the relationship between nation-state and European Union is perceived to be negative (i.e., in UK regions), the national government is defined by emphasising the regions' pro-Europe sentiments. When central government is perceived to hold positive EU attitudes (i.e., in The Netherlands), politicians in peripheral regions accuse the national government of over-conformity to the EU, while emphasising the greater historical and cultural link between their region and Europe than between region and nation-state. Discussion focuses on the context-dependent nature of EU attitudes and on the importance of identity considerations at the regional level when examining attitudes towards the EU

Conformity · Context (archaeology · Corporate governance · Economics · European union · Geography · Government (linguistics · Identity (music · International trade · National identity · Perspective (graphical · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · State (computer science · European Union Policy and Governance · Law · Political Influence and Corporate Strategies · Political Systems and Governance · Public Administration