EUROSKEPTICISMENS DYNAMIK: SOCIAL KLASS OCH KORRUPTION En kvantitativ studie om korruptionens påverkan på euroskepticism i Central- och Östeuropa

Abstract

This paper explores the impact of socioeconomic status and the perception of national corruption on Euroscepticism in Central and Eastern Europe. Compared to other studies in this field, this paper stands out by examining how different social groups are affected by the perception of national corruption. Analyzing data from the Eurobarometer 97.2 conducted in 2022, this study reveals that higher social class is associated with a decreased level of Euroscepticism which correlates with prior research findings. In addition, this paper notes a positive correlation between a high level of perceived national corruption and increased Euroscepticism, which contradicts previous explanatory theories. The distinctive contribution of this paper lies in the exploration of moderation effects when considering the interaction between social class and corruption perception. The findings suggest that the influence of social class on Euroscepticism weakens when corruption acts as a moderator variable. Notably, this paper suggests that the correlation weakens progressively with increasing affiliation to higher social classes. Nonetheless, this paper does not uncover significant findings indicating that the perception of national corruption significantly influences Euroscepticism across different social classes, which therefore will require further research. This research not only contributes to our understanding of the multifaceted factors shaping Euroscepticism in Central and Eastern Europe, but also adds a unique perspective by delving into the dynamics between corruption perception, social class categories and attitudes towards Euroscepticism.