Linking euroscepticism and populism: methodological approaches and challenges

Euroscepticism and populism represent two fundamental challenges for the European Union and its member states. Even though we can find various studies for each concept, the interplay between the two concepts is less analyzed. The main aim of the proposed paper is to shed light to this linkage by providing a longitudinal analysis of the study between euroscepticism and populism mainly in methodological terms. Main objective is to overview the different approaches both from existing quantitative and qualitative studies for the analysis of the interplay between the two items. Some indicative questions that we plan to explore are: what is the exact connection between populism and Euroscepticism? How has this connection changed over time? Can we identify common points among the voters and the elite level? What is it in populism that speaks to anti-EU beliefs? Is the relationship between populism and Euroscepticism different across countries and regions? Is populist anti-elitism always reliant on the opposition against the degree of political compromise that characterises EU decision-making? Do populist and eurosceptic attitudes result in similar or different preferences for the future path of European integration? In order to explore these questions, we will use the studies that are included within the framework of the COST Action CA23102 - Linking euroscepticism and populism: causes and consequences (EUPopLink).