THE ROLE OF CULTURAL NARRATIVES AND SOCIAL IDENTITY IN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR EUROPEAN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES. A survey experiment in the car-state Germany.

Abstract

This thesis examines whether and how cultural narratives influence public support for environmental policies of the European Union (EU). It contributes to the field of European Studies by demonstrating how such narratives can shape the acceptance of EU policies within a culturally diverse union. Focusing on Germany’s car-state narrative, the study examines public support for the ban on internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035. Drawing on Social Identity Theory, the thesis explores how different framings of the policy activate identity-related mechanisms that shape individual support. To test these effects, a face-to-face survey experiment was conducted in Germany in April 2025 (N = 264). Participants were randomly assigned to two mini-experiments. The first group was exposed to an identity-affirming frame aligning with the cultural narrative of the car-state (TG1). The second group was exposed to an external threat frame presenting the policy as an EU mandate (TG2). The results show that aligning the policy with Germany’s car-state narrative increased support. A majority of participants in TG1 (93.9%) approved the ICEV ban when e-fuels were included as an option or held a neutral stance. This indicates that national cultural narratives can meaningfully shape public support for EU environmental measures. While identity-affirming frames clearly increase support, the EU frame, which was intended to trigger out-group threat, did not significantly reduce support as previously assumed. By demonstrating how national identity can be activated through targeted framing, the thesis contributes to a better understanding of the cultural conditions under which EU environmental policies gain public support.