The Influence of Foreign Elite Rhetoric: National Identity, Emotions, and Attitudes Toward Austerity
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-18-2020
Abstract
How does foreign elite rhetoric affect citizens’ emotions and attitudes about austerity? In a survey experiment conducted on the online blogs of the two major Italian newspapers, participants read a fictional news article where the German Chancellor addressed Italians. Across treatments, I varied whether the message blamed or praised Italians, and whether the message focused on economic or symbolic concerns. Praise generated enthusiasm whereas blame spurred anger and anxiety. Moreover, respondents with a strong national or European identity who read a message of praise were more enthusiastic, less angry, and less opposed to austerity. Finally, people who identify strongly with the nation reacted more to economic messages whereas those who identify strongly with Europe reacted more to symbolic messages. The results suggest that rhetoric by a prominent European leader can influence citizens’ emotions and attitudes toward austerity in the emerging European public sphere.
Recommended Citation
Del Ponte, A. (2021). The Influence of Foreign Elite Rhetoric: National Identity, Emotions, and Attitudes toward Austerity. European Union Politics, 22(1), 155-178. https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116520966653
Peer Reviewed
1
Copyright
The authors
Included in
Economic Policy Commons, International Relations Commons, Other Economics Commons, Other Political Science Commons, Political Economy Commons, Political Theory Commons, Public Economics Commons
Comments
This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in European Union Politics, volume 22, issue 1, in 2021 following peer review. This article may not exactly replicate the final published version. The definitive publisher-authenticated version is available online at https://doi.org/10.1177/1465116520966653.