A Threatening Horizon: The Impact of the Welfare State on Support for <scp>E</scp>urope

Abstract

Abstract From the cradle to the grave, social protection is the major bond between citizen and national authority. E uropean integration challenges the social boundaries of nation‐states and this phenomenon is not without consequences for individual attitudes. Within public debate, there are many discussions about the impact of E uropean integration on the welfare state, but conclusive analysis of the consequences on individual support for E urope is still lacking. This article provides an empirical test of the relationship between support for E urope and attitudes towards the welfare state. The findings show that both welfare regimes and welfare issues have a strong impact on individual support for E urope. When it comes to social protection, the E uropean U nion works like a distant, albeit strong, threat for individuals.