Euroscepticism in context: Perceptions of communal loss and parties’ electoral fortunes in the 2019 EP elections

The role of geographies of discontent has been increasingly scrutinised with reference to political behaviour. In particular, scholars argued that public service deprivation has favoured the success of radical-right parties. Here, it is argued that perceptions of public service deprivation and increased unemployment may translate not only into increased support for radical-right parties but, more in general, may help explain patterns of support for Eurosceptic parties across the European Union (EU) both on the left and right side of the ideological spectrum. It is indeed argued that perceptions of loss of material resources, the feeling of being left behind and failing to receive a fair share of public resources, may on one side foster support for (radical-)left parties who campaigned in favour of more social spending and of a greater role played by the state in the economy, and on the other may fuel worries about immigration and competition with immigrants over scarce resources increasing the appeal of far-right parties. Furthermore, it is argued that these perceptions have a more prominent effect on Eurosceptic voting in Southern Europe, where member states were more severely hit by the economic crisis, share less developed welfare systems, and experienced strong European interference in their economic policy. This argument is tested by drawing on original public opinion survey data collected by the REScEU project after the last European Parliament elections in 10 EU countries (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Hungary, Poland, The Netherlands, Spain and Sweden) chosen to maximize political, economic, and cultural differences within the EU, as well as the exposure to the different crises experienced.