This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (10) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Christin, T. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Economic and Political Basis of Attitudes towards the EU in Central and East European Countries in the 1990s

University of St Gallen, Switzerland, thomas.christin{at}unisg.ch

This article aims to explain attitudes towards the European Union in Central and East European countries. I propose a model that combines economic and political variables at two levels of explanation: the individual and the national. Using a cross-sectional time series data set compiled from Central and Eastern Eurobarometer surveys, I demonstrate that individual attitudes towards domestic economic and political reforms are good predictors of citizens’ attitudes towards the European Union in Central and East European countries. Macro dimensions, such as economic and political performance, have an impact on attitudes towards the EU, particularly in candidate countries. Finally, a multiplicative model with interaction effects between the individual level and the macro level suggests that attitudes have a stronger impact if the domestic conditions are good. If the country is in bad shape, the attitudes are less relevant.

Key Words: Central and Eastern Europe • European integration • free market and democratic reforms • public opinion

European Union Politics, Vol. 6, No. 1, 29-57 (2005)
DOI: 10.1177/1465116505049607


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				P. Sciarini and A. Tresch A Two-Level Analysis of the Determinants of Direct Democratic Choices in European, Immigration and Foreign Policy in Switzerland European Union Politics, December 1, 2009; 10(4): 456 - 481. [Abstract] [PDF]

				J. Garry and J. Tilley The Macroeconomic Factors Conditioning the Impact of Identity on Attitudes towards the EU European Union Politics, September 1, 2009; 10(3): 361 - 379. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Tanasoiu and C. Colonescu Determinants of Support for European Integration: The Case of Bulgaria European Union Politics, September 1, 2008; 9(3): 363 - 377. [Abstract] [PDF]

				O. Elgun and E. R. Tillman Exposure to European Union Policies and Support for Membership in the Candidate Countries Political Research Quarterly, September 1, 2007; 60(3): 391 - 400. [Abstract] [PDF]

				R. Rohrschneider and S. Whitefield Political Parties, Public Opinion and European Integration in Post-Communist Countries: The State of the Art European Union Politics, March 1, 2006; 7(1): 141 - 160. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Hooghe and G. Marks Calculation, Community and Cues: Public Opinion on European Integration European Union Politics, December 1, 2005; 6(4): 419 - 443. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Vossing Nationality and the Preferences of the European Public toward EU Policy-Making European Union Politics, December 1, 2005; 6(4): 445 - 467. [Abstract] [PDF]