EU enlargement and the public opinion on the Czech Republic: an explanatory analysis

Abstract

The article provides an analysis of the public opinion in EU countries on the anticipated Czech membership. Public opinion and mass interest articulations are central to studies on European integration. Macro-geographical structure of the EU and its enlarged periphery of associated countries is examined in order to derive basic explanatory assumptions. The differentiation in the support for the Czech membership is explained with the help of structural variables and public opinion variables. Statistical analysis (LISREL model) shows the importance of post-materialist value orientation of the EU populations for their support given to the enlargement with the Czech Republic. The public in rich and large countries and in French-speaking parts of the EU tends to give less support for the Czech accession indicating that a strong integrative sense of a larger European community still has to emerge.