Euroskeptics,Europhiles and Instrumental Europeans

Abstract

This article uses Q-methodology, a factor analytic approach, to distinguish among different types of European attachments in Scotland and Wales. This method allows us to divide the types of European attachment into two groups: Euroskeptics, who oppose nearly every aspect of Europe, the EU and European integration; and those with more positively inclined European attachments. While positive European types share enough to be considered a meaningful group, they can also be divided between Europhiles and instrumental supporters of Europe. The result is deeper understanding of the dynamics of political attitudes of citizens from one of the more Euroskeptical members of the EU, but also reconsideration of Britain as more than simply an awkward partner in the European Union.