HOW DIFFERENT IMMIGRATION THREAT PERCEPTIONS SHAPE EUROSCEPTICISM AT THE INDIVIDUAL LEVEL

Abstract

The thesis examines how perceived immigration threats shape attitudes towards the European Union and European integration at the individual level. It argues that there is a distinct difference between perceived economic and cultural threat from immigration. Furthermore, it examines whether the relationship is moderated by time, the presence of right-wing populist parties, and individual ideology. The study uses OLS regression models with country fixed effects and interaction effects based on European Social Survey data covering 22 EU member states in 2023, as well as a longitudinal subset ranging from 2014 to 2023. The results show that perceived economic and cultural threats from immigration are strong and significant predictors of Euroscepticism. While the effects of the two perceived threat variables do not differ significantly, the findings suggest that they influence Euroscepticism through distinct causal pathways. The relationship has remained relatively stable over time. The increased presence of right-wing populist parties slightly strengthens the connection, suggesting a cueing effect. Individual ideology does not moderate the relationship. The thesis contributes to the literature by providing a more nuanced and contextual understanding of how immigration-related threat perceptions shape Euroscepticism.