Analysing how crises shape mass and elite preferences and behaviour in the European Union
| Published date | 01 March 2022 |
| Author | Catherine E De Vries |
| Date | 01 March 2022 |
| DOI | 10.1177/14651165211044086 |
| Subject Matter | Forum |
Analysing how crises shape
mass and elite preferences
and behaviour in the
European Union
Catherine E De Vries
Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University,
Milan, Italy
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic proved the latest stress test for the European Union, after
Brexit, the Eurozone crisis and the large influx of refugees. This highly relevant and
well-timed special issue examines how past crises have left an imprint on the opinions
and behaviour of ordinary citizens and political elites regarding the European Union.
This Forum article reviews the special issue contributions by spelling out which lessons
we can learn from each of them and which paths for future research they have opened
up. In terms of a path forward, I argue that scholars ought to pay more attention to (a)
the role of political elites, (b) political opportunity structures, and (c) heterogeneity both
between and within member states.
Keywords
European Union attitudes, politicization, political parties, political opportunity structures
Introduction
‘Europe is forged in crises’is a famous prediction about Europe’s future stemming from
one of the European Union’s (EU) founding fathers, Monnet (1976). Although the EU
arguably constitutes more than a sum of the decisions taken during episodes of crisis,
there is some truth to Monnet’s prediction. Under the pressure of market reactions, geo-
political developments or political disruptions, government leaders in the European
Corresponding author:
Catherine E De Vries, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Bocconi University, Via Roentgen 1, 20136
Milan, Italy.
Email: catherine.devries@unibocconi.it
Forum
European Union Politics
2022, Vol. 23(1) 161–168
© The Author(s) 2021
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DOI: 10.1177/14651165211044086
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