Understanding regional and global politics: The public's political knowledge of the European Union

In the last twenty years, several scholars have argued that the legitimacy of the European Union (EU) suffers from both weak mechanisms for public accountability and an alarming level of public apathy and ignorance about EU affairs. Such critiques often neglect a vital component of democratic behavior: the role of political knowledge. To participate in EU affairs, the public must hold some understanding of the EU, the issues under its jurisdiction and its relationship with the national governments. Many Europeans may adopt an apathetic or antagonist approach toward the EU precisely because they do not quite understand the EU.;We have not yet empirically determined the extent to which Europeans understand the European Union or the conditions that lead the public to become better informed about the EU. This project thus investigates the questions: how much do Europeans know about the EU, under what conditions do they learn about EU affairs, and does the public's knowledge actually matter for attitudes toward European integration?;The project theorizes that the extent of public knowledge on the EU likely varies across different constituencies and between different EU member states. Specifically, those individuals who perceive the potential for economic benefits in regional integration and who have had greater exposure to political processes at the European level are more likely to exhibit a better understanding of European integration and to hold more coherent positions on EU issues. Additionally, political knowledge is likely affected by the salience of EU issues and opportunities to engage the political process at the country level, both of which are moderated by the quality of political institutions, the level of socio-economic development, and the frequency with which the EU is covered in the media and in elite cues.;This project also argues that the dearth of well-informed individuals serves to distort attitudes toward European integration. The ill-informed are less likely to perceive the EU as an economic body, more likely to harbor cultural-based fears of European integration, and will consequently support the EU in fewer numbers. Analyses of mass survey data confirm many of these expectations.