Rational Euro-scepticism

Political scientist José Ignacio Torreblanca interprets the most recent Eurobarometer survey results according to which among other things the proportion of no-votes among the working class in the Irish referendum was particularly high. "We see this kind of polarisation of public opinion in other member states: for the working class European integration and globalisation are two sides of the same coin. Just as the clear majority of Europeans (63 percent) believes that globalisation serves the interests of companies but not those of citizens, a growing number of Europeans see European integration as a liberalist economic project that threatens job security. ... So there is a rationale behind the Euro-scepticism and it is not just a matter of feelings, as is sometimes claimed. An overwhelming majority of Irish (85 percent) has a positive attitude toward EU membership and wants to remain within the Union, but at the same time there are sectors of the economy and society that are profiting less from this integration than others, and this leads them to express their discontent whenever the opportunity presents itself."

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