Rethinking Euroscepticism: Affective, Behavioural and Cognitive Attitudes toward the EU in Hungary

This research developed a new concept and measurement of individual attitudes toward the EU. Our study is based on a countrywide, in-person, representative public opinion research carried out in Hungary between 8-19 August 2021. We constructed a comprehensive Euroscepticism index based on three components, namely affective, cognitive and behavioural Euroscepticism indices. Based on our data, majority of Hungarians associate positive feelings toward the EU and positively assess its impact on their life and Hungary as well. However, very few respondents showed willingness to openly express their support for the EU in real life. Our multivariate analysis showed that women are significantly less Eurosceptic on average, and people living in small and medium towns (compared to Budapest residents) are less likely to support HUXIT in a potential referendum. In accordance with our hypotheses, we confirmed that being a supporter of the governing Fidesz party, sharing culturally right-wing and economically left-wing political views significantly increases the individual level of Euroscepticism. Support for Fidesz and economic left-wing position increased the probability of HUXIT support. Our hypothesis about populist Euroscepticism could not be confirmed, as fear of losing social status and economic grievances did not influence our Euroscepticism index, while anti-elite stance had an opposite effect than expected. Economic grievances had a significant positive effect on the probability of voting for HUXIT. Authoritarian personality traits had a significant effect on both our Euroscepticism index scores and the probability of supporting HUXIT. Our hypotheses about the positive effect of international openness and psychological well-being were only partially confirmed. In line with our expectations, not being lonely in general, having foreign friends, and identification with cosmopolitan values significantly decreased Euroscepticism scores. Subjective well-being had a negative effect, but only on the probability of being pro-HUXIT. Speaking foreign languages did not have significant effects, while intense foreign experience positively correlated with Euroscepticism scores, and previously living abroad even increased the probability of supporting HUXIT.