This 1986 study presents an insightful perspective on public attitudes
towards the European Community. It contains a review of the findings
from public opinion surveys of the time on this issue, but goes beyond
straightforward description to provide a real understanding of European
attitudes. A variety of social-psychological theories are used to test a
model of the structure underlying Community attitudes. The original data
reported in the present study parallel the findings from much larger,
representative and long-term surveys of public opinion. Thus Miles
Hewstone is able to derive from his research a wide-ranging analysis of
cross-national differences in attitudinal support, the Community's
impact on its citizens, and the likely trends in attitude and voting
behaviour. At a time when the entry of Spain and Portugal had further
expanded the Community's membership, such issues were particularly
timely and this clear and penetrating study especially welcome.