Framing external threats: the effect the rise of China on attitudes towards the EU

It is clear that the EU is changing in response to the sequence of external threats it is facing. However, it is not sure if these external threats have had the same effect on public opinion in general. More in particular, we lack insight into the question to what extent citizens perceive these external threats as being linked with the European level, rather than with the national level. And secondly, to what extent making this association between such threats and the European level can impact EU attitudes. To contribute to this lacuna, this study investigates how the effect of a European framing of external threats on attitudes differs from the effect of a national framing. More in particular, it focuses on the rise of China. The rise of China and its rivalry with the US have already fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical context in which European countries are operating, and are likely to remain a matter of importance over the coming years. However, despite its importance, little research exists looking at EU public opinion concerning China, let alone how the rise of China affects views on Europe. To better understand the (potential) effect of the rise of China as well as a European framing of this rise on EU attitudes, it uses a survey experiment fielded in 4 European member states. In this experiment, respondents are exposed to a sequence of vignettes in which the rise of China is framed in either national or European frames. Through doing so, this study helps us understand better how the framing of the relevant community in relation to external threats matters in identity formation.