Irish Public Opinion toward European Integration

Abstract

A BSTRACT Conventional wisdom suggests that Irish people tend to be very positive about the European Union. However, the reality of Irish opinion is more nuanced. Using individual level data (Eurobarometer 61), we examine whether or not the factors that are held to shape opinion toward European integration have similar influences on differing aspects of opinion toward integration: (1) an affective orientation to EU membership and (2) items that embody European integration. A second contribution of this paper is that while we consider a number of familiar explanations of opinion toward European integration (i.e. utilitarianism, identity, evaluations of institutions, political knowledge), we also examine the influence of attitudes to globalisation on opinion. Our results show that opinion toward European integration is not a single entity but a complex set of opinions. To understand opinion toward integration, it is important to consider a wide range of characteristics of the European project.

Exploring and Explaining Public Attitudes towards the European Integration Process in Northern Ireland

“…Numerous studies have shown that those with higher levels of educational attainment (such as possessing a degree qualification or leaving education at a later age) 396 B. Clements have more positive attitudes towards the EU than those with lower or no qualifications (Gabel, 1998;Carey, 2002;Kennedy & Sinnott, 2007;Clements, 2009). This is also the case for previous analyses of public attitudes on the European issue in Northern Ireland (Smith & Corrigan, 1995: 99).…”

Irish Political Parties' Attitudes towards Neutrality and the Evolution of the EU's Foreign, Security and Defence Policies

“…Although Irish attitudes to European integration are well understood (see Kennedy & Sinnott, 2007), academics, elites and government have argued that public thinking on neutrality is 'extraordinarily ill-defined', that a crystallized meaning of neutrality among the public does not exist (Gilland, 2001: 151) and that public attitudes to neutrality are 'confused' (FitzGerald, 1996) and non-rational (Everts, 2000: 178-179). However, more recent academic research has indicated that the public have consistently adhered to a clear-cut concept of 'active' or 'positive' neutrality.…”

European Union crises and Irish public opinion: continuity and change in patterns of support

“…Ireland is often regarded as one of the most enthusiastic supporters of European integration since its accession to the EU in 1973 as they are often considered as 'good Europeans' with a pro-integrationist attitude (Sinnott 1995, Sinnott 2002, Gilland 2002Sinnott 2005;Kennedy & Sinnott 2006;Kennedy & Sinnott 2007;Lyons 2008;Adshead & Tonge 2009). However, the reality of Irish public opinion is more nuanced: support for the EU in Ireland is not a single entity, but a complex set of opinions determined by a variety of factors.…”

“…Research has shown that since the 1990's knowledge about the EU amongst the Irish public is low (Gary, Marsh & Sinnott 2005;; Kennedy & Sinnott 2006;Kennedy & Sinnott 2007;Laffan & O'Mahony 2008 pp. 128) with individuals in Ireland more likely to refer to the economic aspects of the EU, such as the freedom of movement, the Euro and economic prosperity.…”

“…This 'knowledge deficit' is perhaps not surprising as for the first twenty years of EU membership Ireland's self-perception of its status within the EU was that of a small, poor, peripheral member state. In their examination of the nuances of Irish public opinion toward the EU Kennedy and Sinnott (2007) find that Irish individuals' knowledge of the EU does not affect the relationship between opinion of EU support and evaluations of domestic and European institutions. Therefore, the EU project in Ireland is not one which can be encapsulated by a single overarching judgment, but by many different facets.…”