Diverging perceptions of 'conservatism' at the light of European integration

The Estonian media and political culture have so far been dominated by the perception of European integration as a process led by liberal-minded politicians. The focus of this presentation is the popular notion of 'conservatism', which, based on recent surveys, suggests that the average Estonian supporter of EU Integration defines him/herself primarily as a conservative. The different ways in which a conservatism-based conception of European integration is constructed will be discussed.