Effects of European Identity Upon Refugee protection: The case of 6 Western European countries

Abstract

This study analyzes the effect of European identity on refugee protection in the 6 Western European countries from 2016 to 2019, especially focusing on the inclusive/exclusive mechanism of European identity. It is confirmed that the countries with higher European identity tend to record higher level of refugee recognition rate and higher refugee protection awareness, while the countries with lower European identity have tendency of lower refugee recognition rate and lower refugee protection awareness. Accordingly, European identity could be regarded as inclusive and integrative identity based on the normative values that the European Union have emphasized in the process of European integration.