"Ignorant and Confused?" Knowledge and Awareness as Determinants of Euroskepticism.

This paper seeks to explain Euroskeptic attitudes by examining the relationship between information and Euroskepticism and the role of Euroskepticism in the post-enlargement integration debate. Drawing upon data from the Eurobarometer survey series and the European Election Studies, this paper tests the relationship between information and attitudes towards membership and the direction of integration, as well as the relationship between information and voting in European elections. By utilizing public opinion surveys on the direction of integration post enlargement in addition to attitudes toward membership, this paper is able to address the effect of information on both hard and soft Euroskepticism. This analysis concludes the roles of knowledge and awareness have divergent influences on hard and soft Euroskepticism. While increased knowledge increases support for membership in the EU, increased awareness decreases support for the direction of integration. This conclusion is further supported by evidence from the 2004 European election that suggests as awareness increases, the likelihood of voting for a pro-EU party decreases. This conclusion suggests that knowledge may initially inform individuals of the benefits of being a member in the EU but greater awareness increases the likelihood they will be a harsher critic of the way in which it is developing, necessitating further examination of the role of the Euroskeptic movement in public opinion. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]