Is a sense of community based on similarity? The perception of shared values and citizens’ EU identity

Abstract

ABSTRACT Does the perception of sharing values strengthen the EU citizens’ sense of belonging to the European Union? The present study uses the concept of social identity derived from social psychology to explore this question. It assumes that the perception that EU citizens share the same value orientations with each other strengthens identification with the EU’s political community. To empirically test this thesis, two-level regression models are conducted on the basis of survey data from the 2019 Eurobarometer (EB 92.3). The empirical results show that the subjective perception of being similar in terms of value orientations is positively associated with EU identity.