Values,Perceptions and European Integration

Abstract

Which combinations of values and perceptions constitute the arguments in the debate on European integration? Using survey data from Norway's 1994 EU referendum, this article explores Norwegian voters' support for these arguments. Thus, the article highlights the perceptions and arguments of the EU debate, rather than support for European integration. Furthermore, the article explores how these arguments are structured in a multi-party context: Did voter arguments reflect the multi-party competition or the frontlines of the referendum? With the elite discourse as a starting point, I present hypotheses on polarization of arguments between pro- and anti-EU voters, standardization across party lines and the impact of cross-pressure. The hypotheses are generally supported by survey data, with the exception of arguments about national culture. Finally, I argue that research on conflicting perceptions of the EU will yield useful insights and bring political factors into the study of opinion regarding the EU. Divergent perceptions of the EU's policies and political order may be a fruitful subject for cross-national studies.