From national welfare states to Social Europe: welfare attitudes in the context of European integration

This chapter explores public opinion on Social Europe from both a theoretical and empirical perspective. It critically reviews the literature concerning public attitudes towards Social Europe, clarifying the main concepts used, while presenting new empirical research, gaps and avenues for future research. Drawing on cross-national survey data from the Eurobarometer wave 90.2, including all 27 European Union (EU) member states, this chapter aims to provide a deeper insight into whether, and why, Europeans have diverging attitudes with respect to member state solidarity (i.e. mutual assistance between EU member states) in the event of a social crisis. Results show that lower socio-economic status, efficiency beliefs about EU-level decision-making and high unemployment rates foster support for the development of a more solidaristic EU. The chapter concludes by sketching a research agenda for welfare attitudes in an increasingly integrated Europe.