How European Citizens Understand the Economy

Auteur

Dorian Alt is a postdoctoral researcher at the Institute of Comparative Constitutionalism at Charles University Prague. His research interests lie at the intersection of Political Sociology and European Studies. Dorian holds a PhD in Politics from Freie Universität Berlin, an Msc in Philosophy from LSE and a BA in European Studies from Maastricht University.

Texte du rabat

This book argues that the European public sphere functions to help citizens understand complex economic issues and discuss them meaningfully across borders. Through original research conducted on citizens' perceptions of European economic issues, it explores a mechanism that allows people to make sense of such complex issues.

Contenu

Introduction: How the European Public Overcomes Problems of Understanding Chapter 1. Investigating Complexity and Compatibility in the European Public Sphere PART I: National Anchoring Chapter 2. National Culture and Past Politicization Chapter 3. Neoliberalism and the Worth of Nations PART II: The Complexity Problem Chapter 4. Diverse Understandings: Market Experiences and the Rational Choice Model Chapter 5. Informed Understandings: Economic Theory and the Deficit Model PART III: The Compatibility Problem Chapter 6. Testing Compatibility: Three and the European Public Sphere Chapter 7. Explaining Compatibility: Economic Politicization and the European Demos Conclusion Bibliography Appendix 1. Overview of Social Representations: the Economy in the Eyes of Citizens Appendix 2. Focus Group Design Appendix 3. Characteristics of Participants