Immigration, Integration, and Public Opinion in the European Union

Abstract

The politics of immigration and integration pose significant and interrelated challenges for the continued growth and success of the European Union. This paper explores that connection by means of a literature review and a regression analysis. While the literature explores in depth each issue separately, I conclude that public opinion moves in the same direction; that is, a person that views the EU favorably is most likely going to view immigration positively. This is for a number of reasons, the most important of which relates to how citizens perceive their national identity, as both integration and immigration are threats upon national sovereignty. I find that variables such as a nation’s ‘foreign policy’ tradition, education, and left/right positioning are also important factors, while most other socioeconomic data are not significant.