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How E uropean is E uropean Identification? Comparing Continental Identification in E urope and Beyond
Author(s) -
Roose Jochen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
jcms: journal of common market studies
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.54
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1468-5965
pISSN - 0021-9886
DOI - 10.1111/jcms.12005
Subject(s) - identification (biology) , distribution (mathematics) , economic geography , political science , economics , mathematics , biology , ecology , mathematical analysis
Abstract E uropean identification has previously been explained by the selective gains brought by the E uropean integration process, by personal transnational experiences and by the influence of political programmes aiming at increasing levels of identification. All these explanations imply that identification with one's continent would be specific in extent and distribution across the social structure in E urope compared to other continents. These assumptions are tested using I nternational S ocial S urvey P rogramme ( ISSP ) and a longitudinal analysis using E urobarometer. Results show that, first, the extent of continental identification in E urope is not higher than in other continents. Second, they reveal that there has been no increase in E uropean identification in recent decades. And third, the socio‐structural distribution of continental identification is similar on all continents. Accordingly, explaining E uropean identification with respect to policy output of the E uropean Union is questioned by the findings. The results rather hint at the possibility that E uropean identification is independent of political integration.