In response to international crises like the Eurozone crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and the climate change, the European Union (EU) is compelled to synchronize a unified approach among Member States, employing technocratic institutions, like the European Commission and the European Central Bank, as well as committees of experts to streamline decision-making processes. However, this solution, while effective in crisis management, raises concerns about the insulation of public policy from public scrutiny, potentially pushing national governments to implement reforms that may not align with the preferences of their citizens. Therefore, politics at the European level resembles technocracy in that the decision-making process is knowledge-based, rationally guided in the definition of objective methods and policy goals, effective and distant from the public at large.
This paper delves into the nuanced landscape of citizen support for EU policies during different crisis-situations, exploring variations across countries and investigating the influence of political attitudes, specifically the role played by technocratic support in shaping public opinion. It argues that individuals with positive attitudes toward technocracy are more likely to endorse EU intervention, even when such interventions entail redistributive features, compared to both populists and proponents of party-based democracy.
Nevertheless, not every crisis demands technical solutions; some may necessitate political responses. A notable example is the refugee crisis, where a coordination among national governments is crucial. In such a scenario, one would anticipate that individuals with a technocratic mindset might show less support for EU intervention compared to situations like the Eurozone crisis. Using the SOLID 2021 dataset, this study aims to untangle the complex interplay between fluctuations in EU solidarity and individual attitudes toward diverse forms of democratic representation in different national contexts, thereby contributing to a comprehensive understanding of the factors shaping public support for EU interventions across a spectrum of crises.
