The two sides of Euroscepticism: Party positions on European integration in East Central Europe

Abstract:

This article aims to make a three-fold contribution to the study of Euroscepticism in the wider Europe. First, it presents a two-dimensional conceptualisation of party positions on European integration in general, and of Euroscepticism in particular, distinguishing between diffuse and specific support for European integration (ie 'support for the ideas of European integration' and 'support for the EU'). Second, it analyses the location, type and electoral strength of party-based Euroscepticism in the four candidate countries of East Central Europe - the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. Third, it contributes to the ideology vs strategy debate, showing that ideology is the dominant explanation for both types of support, although strategy at times plays a role in explaining specific support.