Public Opinion: Does Political Fragmentation Mean Popular Fragmentation?
Public Opinion: Does Political Fragmentation Mean Popular Fragmentation?

Author(s): Ryszarda Formuszewicz
Subject(s): Government/Political systems, Politics and society, EU-Accession / EU-DEvelopment, Sociology of Politics, Geopolitics
Published by: PISM Polski Instytut Spraw Międzynarodowych
Keywords: Public opinion; European Union; EU integration process; Euro-skepticism; Eurobarometer reports;
Summary/Abstract: Europe is facing a substantial downturn in social support for the European integration process. This worsening attitude towards the European project, combined with low trust in national policymakers, creates fertile ground for the rise of Eurosceptic and protest parties. According to the twice-yearly Eurobarometer surveys, trust has significantly diminished in European institutions, and the future of the European project seems uncertain to many Europeans. Furthermore, this downward trend in the EU’s image in European public opinion appears persistent and widespread, giving considerable cause for concern, as this distrust characterises the majority sentiment in 20 EU countries. An absolute majority of respondents in one recent Eurobarometer survey expressed distrust of the European Union in the EU15 countries, the euro area Member States, and also in the euro-outsiders category.

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