The Euro and European identity: The Spanish and Portuguese case
Abstract The European Union proposes a potential social identity that Spain and Portugal wish to have as part and parcel of their process of modernisation and economic growth. The Euro is the symbol of this desire. As this study shows, in the process of changing to the new currency the pro-European attitudes are far more advanced than any real information citizens may have. As a result of this, the desire to be a European citizen is expressed in the new currency or any other symbol of identity that may strengthen this particular image. The support that citizens give to the Single European Currency comes more from the European identity than from the economic expectations or knowledge of the …
Explaining attitudes towards the euro: Design of a cross-national study
AbstractThe aim of this paper is to provide essential background material relating to the accom-panying papers in this special issue. It presents a brief description of the ‘Psychology of theEuropean Monetary Union’ project. This involved a questionnaire study of attitudes towardsthe euro, which was fielded in each of the 15 member states of the European Union in thesummer of 1997. We describe the development of the common survey instrument, and outlinethe rationale and methods pursued in sampling particular conceptual domains. The paper alsodetails the sampling procedures used in each country, together with the response rates andsample sizes attained. Finally, it o•ers a brief cross-nationa…