Critical junctures and social identity theory: explaining the gap between Danish mass and elite attitudes to Europeanization

Abstract:

By applying a combination of a social constructivist perspective on ideational change with theories of social learning and social identity, the article explains the gap in the Danish discourse on Europe between mass and elite. The Danish population is conceptualized as two differently constructed 'social groups' consisting of a nation people and a state-elite group. Each 'social group' has experienced different processes of ideational change and socialization and has developed different conceptions of interests and political preferences.