The Role of Knowledge in the Development of Civic and Cultural Identities

• In Event: Do Citizens in Democracies Still Support Democracy?

Abstract

Identity’s relevance for EU politics is well-established. Yet as prior studies show, individuals may conceive of identity in different ways (e.g., in civic or cultural terms). We argue that citizens’ degree of objective political knowledge should have differential effects on EU support depending on which identity conception they hold. Using original data from nationally representative surveys conducted during 2015 in Germany, Poland, and the United Kingdom, we examine the conditions under which knowledge interacts with these different identity conceptions to affect one’s level of EU support. We find that greater knowledge increases support among those with a more civic view, yet significantly decreases it among those with a cultural one. These findings provide new insight into the determinants of citizens’ EU attitudes and highlight implications for EU policymakers seeking to bolster public opinion.

Authors

• Nicholas J. Clark, Susquehanna University

• K. Amber Curtis, Clemson University