|
|
|
|
Click on the maps to retrieve the exact scores of each
EU-member state as regards self-determination values (upper map) and
normative values (bottom map). Opens Excel
|
||||
| Cultural diversity in Europe | ||||
| Addressing dimensions of cultural
diversity in Europe from several social science traditions and surveying
its impact on opinions on the European Union and its institutions. The analyses are part of an Annex to the State of the Union, a yearly statement of the Dutch national cabinet on their views and policies regarding the European Union. The Annex is titled Divers Europa. Europese Verkenningen 4 (Diverse Europe. European Outlook, volume 4). The European Outlook was coordinated by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and commissioned to the SCP, Social and Cultural Planning Office of the Netherlands and the CPB, Netherlands Bureau for Economic Policy Analysis, all in The Hague, Netherlands. |
In part B of the Annex
several cultural dimensions with which to compare cultures are shortly
introduced, e.g. the well-known dimensions explored by
Geert Hofstede, Ronald F. Inglehart,
and Shalom Schwartz. Two other dimensions are introduced: those
developed by Mary Douglas and by
European Values Study scholars. The
dimensions from these five sources are take together in one overarching
analysis in order to come up with one set of dimensions that explains
cultural diversity best in the European Union of the 25 member states:
the two relevant dimensions relate to self-determination (especially in
the older 15 Eu member states) on the one hand and normative values on
the other (especially in Ireland, Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, and
Poland). Next, several measurements of trust are surveyed: generalized
social trust, trust in institutions, and also trust in people from other
EU-member states. The cultural and trust indicators are related to
several opinions on the European Union. It is found that cultural diversity is rather stable from the 1970s period onwards. The more self-determining cultures are, the more negative views people have on the extension of the EU to new countries, preferences for a common policy and trust in the European Union, something people in normative cultures do endorse. The data used in this project are from the key authors mentioned above, the European Values Study (1981, 1990, 1999-2000) and several Eurobarometers. Given the low number of nations and possible effects of other (non-cultural or non-trust) indicators we should be careful with drawing far reaching conclusions. |
Part B is authored by Paul Dekker (SCP) and Henk Vinken (on behalf of Pyrrhula BV). Part A, also by SCP, covers the opinions on Europe and the European Union of the Dutch populace. Part C is an analysis of the CPB on the impact of culture and trust on economic indicators, such as economic growth. The full report in Dutch can be downloaded from the website of the SCP (one copy for personal use only). For a direct download of the full English version of the report click here.
|
||
