Delieva, Monika (2025) Attitudes Toward the European Union Among Bulgarian Tertiary Students. Bachelor thesis, Global Responsibility & Leadership (GRL).
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Abstract
The future of the European Union (EU) increasingly relies on the attitudes and perceptions of its citizens. This is why this thesis examines the construction of attitudes toward EU integration among Bulgarian tertiary students. Previous research suggests that both utilitarian cost–benefit considerations and identity attachments shape EU attitudes, but fall short to qualitatively explore them in the context of Bulgarian youth. Using co-occurrence analysis and qualitative thematic analysis based on semi-structured interviews with five tertiary-level students, this study investigates how Bulgarian youth navigate diffuse and specific support for the EU, focusing on their expressions of national and European identity. The findings reveal a dynamic interplay between internalized democratic values, territorial identity attachments, and pragmatic considerations in shaping EU attitudes. Participants consistently express diffuse support for the EU, grounded in democratic principles, while specific support is more conditional and often hinges on the perceived alignment or tension between national and European identities. Moreover, generational divides surface as a key factor, with youth viewing older national frameworks as limiting and calling for national-level policy changes that better reflect their evolving identity needs.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Name supervisor: | Zee, T.J. de |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Jun 2025 10:08 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2025 10:08 |
| URI: | https://campus-fryslan.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/617 |
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