Identifying Europe

Traditional sociological accounts of party choices in European countries have been based largely upon the work on cleavage of Lipset and Rokkan. Challenges to this model have posited changing social structures, the individualization of society, and growing issue politics as being responsible for a decline in political cleavages and consequently of their electoral role. This paper examines an alternative realignment hypothesis, looking at the possible appearance of a new cleavage based upon European versus national orientation. After building a sociological definition of this potential divide and for conditions for its implantation, the paper uses Eurobarometer data from 1974 to 1996 to explore evidence of a strengthening identity cleavage in accounting for party choices. Our findings reinforce those of existing research on the role of Europe. To the extent that a European identity exists, it remains latent and largely untapped in most countries, with the exception of France. Although Europe emerges as an important issue from time to time, the conditions for cleavage emergence remain unmet.