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The EU in the refugee crisis : how national and European identity influence public opinion on immigration policies and threat perception

Wieners, L. C. (2017) The EU in the refugee crisis : how national and European identity influence public opinion on immigration policies and threat perception.

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Abstract:The current refugee crisis embodies the most challenging political issue facing the European Union and divides citizens into halves. While some favor national control over the situation, others demand a common approach that comparts the responsibility due to European wide regulations. Previous research has consistently emphasized the relation between a citizen’s identity and his political viewpoints in comparable debates. This paper aims to test whether the influence from national and European attachments on public opinions is applicable in the context of the refugee crisis. With the help of an online questionnaire data was gathered and a multiple regression analysis was conducted to test the theorized relations. Findings indicated that the higher the national identity, the more likely was opposition toward European immigration policies and rejection of projects to help refugees. Identification with Europe compensated these effects and had the strongest influence on people with a dual identity, consisting of a strong identification with their nation as well as with Europe. This study stresses the potential for future research that could lead to more insights into the role of the relationship between the two identities in political conflicts at EU level.
Item Type:Essay (Bachelor)
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology BSc (56604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/72634
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