'It's the Economy, Stupid' Popular Support for EU Accession in the Czech Republic

Abstract

In this article, a comparison is made between economic and identity explanations of preferences toward EU membership in the Czech Republic. This research demonstrates that economics rather than identity is a more pow- erful explanation of public opinion on accession. With regard to economic explanations of public support for integration three models are examined - a winners and losers model, an international trade liberalisation model, and a foreign direct investment model. A comparison of these three models shows that support for accession was primarily based on attitudes toward foreign di- rect investment. Moreover, contemplating employment opportunities within the EU following accession was also an important factor. Contrary to previous research the empirical evidence presented in this article suggests that being a winner or loser in the post-communist transition process was not the strong- est factor explaining popular support for membership. The results presented should not be taken to imply that instrumental rather than ideological or af- fect-based motivations determine general attitudes toward integration. On the specifi c question of vote choice in the accession referendum instrumental economic considerations were most important.