The Role of Everyday Social Integration in Shaping European Union Support: Insights from a Cross-National Analysis

The European Integration project, aiming for unity and prosperity among its member states, frequently misses the insights from numerous studies that reveal the origins and reasons for resistance to this initiative. The lack of an agonistic approach in EU studies limits a thorough grasp of how opposition to Europeanization deeply intertwines with the everyday lives of citizens. This chapter examines the link between social integration perceptions and EU political attitudes using 2012’s European Social Survey data. Utilizing social disintegration theory, it assesses how societal integration perceptions can shape attitudes towards Europeanization. The theory suggests strong social integration aligns individuals with European norms and values, while isolation may predispose them towards affiliations provided by Eurosceptic formations. A multilevel analysis of 21 EU countries investigates relationships between subjective social integration and support for EU integration, trust in the European Parliament, and pro-EU party support, revealing that subjective social integration significantly influences these political attitudes beyond traditional socioeconomic factors. By highlighting the overlooked impact of subjective social integration on EU attitudes, this chapter lays a groundwork for future research into how support for Europeanization emerges from everyday life practices of EU citizens.