Unveiling the social representation of European identity among young adults in Italy, Portugal, and Spain: An exploratory study

Abstract

This study analyses the social representations of European identity among Southern European youth from Italy, Spain, and Portugal using the Central Nucleus Theory (CNT). Participants, university students from prominent cities, responded to a European identity scale and a semi-structured questionnaire. Analyses reveal common elements like freedom, democracy, and privilege. However, distinct variations tied to contextual factors surfaced among the three countries, highlighting the intricate nature of European identity among these youths. The results highlighted some interesting issues that need to be addressed in order to develop higher levels of identification with the European Union.