The Complexity of Local,National,and European Identities and Their Links to Intergroup Attitudes: The Case of the Basques and the Catalans

Abstract

The aim of this research was to examine the interrelationships between regional, national, and European identities in the Basque Country (Study 1) and Catalonia (Study 2) using the Social Identity Complexity model. Across two studies (total N = 1200), we found that the greater the perceived similarity and overlap between regional and national identification, the stronger the identification with Europe. A more detailed analysis showed that this relationship was positively mediated by national identification. A parallel negative mediation via both regional identification and glorifying regional identification was weaker and less consistent. Moreover, greater perceived similarity to Spain, together with higher levels of identity overlap, was associated with more harmonious attitudes toward other autonomous communities and European nations. In Study 2, these findings were further interpreted through the lens of the Ingroup Projection Model, indicating that for Catalans, Europe—rather than Spain—functions as the primary point of reference.