Original scientific paper

The Youth and Europe: Fears and Hopes

Nebojša Blanuša ; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivan Šiber ; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Based on a content analysis of directed associations on fears and hopes about Europe among the youth in Croatia, this paper analyses their attitude towards Croatia’s admission to the European Union. It also analyses the evaluative complexity and inner structure of this attitude. Research findings show that more than 20% of young people have no explicit attitude towards Croatia’s admission to the European Union. The explored attitude, among those who have it, is predominantly based on three hopes, i.e. expectations: economic progress, achievement of accountable governance and implementation of European values and standards in Croatia, but also on two fears: of economic colonisation and of political changes. Substantially, these hopes and fears comprise the utilitarian, value-related and political dimensions of transformation which are expected from the admission of a country to the European Union.

Keywords

European Union; youth; attitude towards Croatia’s admission to the EU; evaluative complexity of an attitude; directed-association method; content analysis

Hrčak ID:

29115

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/29115

Publication date:

1.2.2008.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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