10th Anniversary Dahrendorf Lecture and Colloquium 1.What do Europeans know? What do they care?
Jun 10, 2020
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Researchers, journalists, and academics discuss narratives in Europe. Topics include: the power of narrative in the Brexit vote, the EU's disconnect from the common citizen, resentment towards the EU in Eastern Germany, far-right activists promoting racist ideologies, language patterns of political elites, and attitudes towards the EU.
Europe is not divided into a simple pro-EU or anti-EU dichotomy, and engaging with the largest group Hesitant Europeans is crucial for shaping the European narrative.
The Chatham House survey revealed six distinct tribes of Europeans, each with unique views on immigration, the EU's strength, and European identity, highlighting the importance of fear and attitudes towards the future in shaping political opinions.
Deep dives
The Six Tribes of Europe: A Breakdown of Public Opinion
The Chatham House survey conducted in ten European countries revealed six distinct tribes or groups of Europeans: Hesitant Europeans, Contented Europeans, EU Rejectors, Frustrated Pro-Europeans, Austerity Rebels, and Federalists. Each tribe had a unique profile in terms of their views on immigration, the EU's strength, and their sense of European identity. Notably, Hesitant Europeans comprised the largest group, expressing moderate and centrist views on the EU. The survey also highlighted the importance of fear and attitudes towards the future in shaping political opinions. The findings emphasized that Europe is not divided into a simple pro-EU or anti-EU dichotomy, and that engaging with the Hesitant Europeans is crucial for shaping the European narrative.
Profile of the Chatham House Survey
The Chatham House survey was conducted online and consisted of 10,195 individuals from ten European countries. It aimed to gauge public opinion on topics such as immigration, EU strength, and European identity. The survey revealed six tribes or groups of Europeans: Hesitant Europeans, Contented Europeans, EU Rejectors, Frustrated Pro-Europeans, Austerity Rebels, and Federalists. The profile of each tribe varied in terms of attitudes towards integration, economic conditions, and demographic characteristics. The study also included interviews with European elites to compare their views with that of the general public.
Insights from the Chatham House Survey
The survey findings highlighted that Europe is characterized by nuanced and multi-dimensional public opinion on the EU. The study emphasized that the EU narrative cannot be reduced to a binary pro-EU or anti-EU division, as the tribes have diverse perspectives and beliefs. It also suggested that existing political parties do not necessarily align with the views of the identified tribes, indicating the potential for a more diverse political landscape. Additionally, the survey showed that engaging with the hesitant Europeans, who comprise the largest group, is crucial for shaping the European narrative and addressing anxieties about the future.
What Stories Does Europe Tell? Contested Narratives, Complex Histories, Conflicted Union. With Isabell Hoffmann (eupinions, Bertelsmann Foundation), Katrin Bennhold (New York Times), Christian Rauh (WZB), Daniel Judt (Oxford). Chaired by Hartmut Mayer (Oxford). Timothy Garton Ash (Oxford) introduces the conference.
Held in St Antony's College, Oxford 2nd and 3rd May 2019
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