Tilburg uni research maps out European values
A large majority of Europeans welcomes European integration, but few Europeans feel European. There are still large value differences between the European regions West, South, Central and East, but Central Europe has moved to modern values the most. These and other findings of the Atlas of European Values were presented at the conference The Value (s) of Europe last week.
The values in Eastern and Western Europe grow closer. The trend towards more individual freedom and tolerance in Western Europe has halted.
The Atlas of European Values contains a range of data, displayed in about 200 maps and diagrams, on how Europeans in 48 countries think about various issues like religion, immigration, sexuality, democracy, work, family, male-female ratio and morality.
Some findings from the Atlas:
– When it comes to family, Europeans remain fairly traditional. A nice home is still the ideal picture, and loyalty is seen as the key to a successful marriage. And although being single is accepted, Europeans think that it is better when a child has a father and a mother.
– Despite the high divorce rate, marriage remains popular.
– Adultery is more tolerated In Northern Europe than in Southern Europe.
– The East Europeans who are tolerant of homosexuality do not want a gay neighbor.
– Europeans are still religious, but belief has become more of a personal matter and is no longer linked to the institutional church.
– The rich countries of Europe are the least willing to pay for a clean environment.
– There is no moral decay. Europeans are opposed to massive illegal activities like tax evasion or travelling by train without paying.
– Greeks, Bulgarians and Romanians are less opposed to the abuse of social security benefits than the average European.
– Europeans think that democracy is the best political system, but their confidence in governments and parliaments is low.
– A majority, both in east and west, likes the idea of a government of experts.
– Confidence in the EU is highest in countries that like to profit from the European richness, it is the lowest in the country who have to come up with the money.
Advertentie.
