Article
Images of Europeans: transnational trust and support for European integration
Journal of International Relations and Development
(2017)
Abstract
Prior research on citizen support for European integration does not consider the influence
of individuals’ evaluations of European nationalities. The model developed in this article
argues that individuals harbour images regarding other European nationalities. These
images, which are tied to the economic development of the nationalities’ country, influence
transnational trust (the general trust that individuals put in another nationality).
Transnational trust explains support for integration, for it facilitates cooperation among
diverse groups. As a result, the overall transnational trust is important in explaining support
for integration. In addition, trust in nationalities from poorer countries has a stronger
impact on support than trust in nationalities from wealthier countries. This is due to the
fact that nationalities from poorer countries occupy lower social strata and that these
strata evoke specific images. Controlling for various factors, regression analysis of the
European Election Study (2004 and 2009) and the Eurobarometer 64.2 (2005) data
supports these claims.
Keywords
- citizen support,
- European Union,
- Transnational Trust
Publication Date
Spring April, 2017
DOI
10.1057/jird.2015.9
Citation Information
Gaspare M Genna. "Images of Europeans: transnational trust and support for European integration" Journal of International Relations and Development Vol. 20 Iss. 2 (2017) p. 358 - 380 Available at: http://works.bepress.com/gaspare_genna/25/