Does differentiated integration strengthen the democratic legitimacy of the EU? Evidence from the 2015 Danish opt-out referendum
METADATA ONLY
Loading...
Author / Producer
Date
2020-12-01
Publication Type
Journal Article
ETH Bibliography
yes
Citations
Altmetric
METADATA ONLY
Data
Rights / License
Abstract
Differentiation has become a durable feature of European integration but we know little about its effects on citizens. Does differentiated integration improve the democratic quality of the European Union and strengthen citizens’ support – or does it promote political divides and foster citizens’ alienation from European integration? This article develops a theoretical argument on the positive attitudinal effects of differentiated integration, contending that differentiation accommodates heterogeneous preferences in a diverse EU and strengthens citizens’ ownership of European integration. A quasi-experimental analysis of public opinion of the 2015 Danish Justice and Home Affairs opt-out referendum demonstrates that the public vote increased citizens’ EU efficacy, indeed. Eurosceptic voters in particular strengthen their belief that their individual voice counts in EU politics, suggesting that differentiation can have a positive effect on the perceived democratic quality of the EU.
Permanent link
Publication status
published
External links
Editor
Book title
Journal / series
Volume
21 (4)
Pages / Article No.
590 - 611
Publisher
SAGE
Event
Edition / version
Methods
Software
Geographic location
Date collected
Date created
Subject
Differentiated integration; EU support; Legitimacy; Quasi-experiment
Organisational unit
03714 - Schimmelfennig, Frank / Schimmelfennig, Frank
Notes
Funding
822304 - Integrating Diversity in the European Union (EC)