Mental Maps (prejudices, stereotypes, images) in connection with the EU enlargement

Special emphasis on Slovakia, Austria, Hungary and Italy.

The Eastern enlargement of the EU is the biggest challenge for Europe in the new century. In the past the relationship between European East and West was underlined by a multitude of differences, which in turn proved to be a fertile soil for various prejudices and stereotypes. Yet, the EU wants not only to be an economic union but political and social one as well. The most important prerequisite is the occurrence of a ‘Social Community’ (see for example: Lindberg, Leon N. (1971): Political Integration as a Multidimensional Phenomen Requiring Multivariate Measurement. In: Lindberg, Leon N. & Scheingold, Stuart A. (ed.): Regional Integration. Theory and Research. Cambridge, p. 45 – 127. ). The existing mental maps, however, hinder the establishment of such a ‘Social Community’. They affect directly and indirectly the approval of the EU enlargement process, which is an important factor determining the creation of a Social community including Eastern and Western Europe.

The central point of my analysis will be the exploration of these mental maps and their role in the EU enlargement process. In the project, the data about the attitudes in the EU member countries towards the applicants from Central and Eastern Europe will be analyzed. As main sources of information I intend to use Eurobarometer and ISSP – files (The International Social Survey Programs - Module on "aspects of national identity"). The underlying determinants of the observed attitudes will be traced down to the following explanatory variables – country size, GDP, language, culture, Democracy index, intensity of cross-country relationships. An important part of the project will be concerned with the evaluation of the above-mentioned factors. The theoretical background of the project will comprise the following social science theories - group conflict theory, East-West – conflict theory, ethnocentrism, ethnic stratification theory, theory of social identity. An important task of the project will be the empirical evaluation of one particular theory, namely – Karl Deutsch’s theory of integration.

In the second part of the project, an analysis of creation, establishment and functioning of the mental maps will be provided. In addition, suggestions about how to eliminate them will be advanced. As a main data source for the analysis in the second part, I intend to use expert interviews and panel questionnaires containing information about the attitudes towards home and foreign country.