Dilemma's rond een EU-referendum

EU-UKRAINE ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT

REFERENDUM: THREE DILEMMA’S

www.chrisaalberts.nl

Three dilemma’s

1. Public knowledge on the EU

2. Neutral EU-reporting

3. Financial incentives


DILEMMA 1:

PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE ON THE EU


If the European Parliament becomes more powerful, this will make the national parliament less powerful.

Do you think that the European parliament

should become more powerful?


Willem Saris: Public opinion on the EU can easily be swayed in different directions. Acta Politica 1997.

Do not know24.5%

Yes, more power33.3%No, not more power42.2%


Many problems are international. For example, 50% of the acid rain

in the Netherlands comes from abroad.

These problems can only be solved by international policies.

If the European Parliament becomes more powerful, this will make the

national parliament less powerful.

Do you think that the European parliament should

become more powerful?


Do not know23.8%

Yes, more power53.5%No, not more power22.7%


Do not know 23.8% (24.5%)Yes, more power 53.5% (33.3%)No, not more power 22.7% (42.2%)


A few years ago: knowledge about the EU


From the Eurobarometer studies.

DILEMMA 2:

NEUTRAL EU-REPORTING


Is 9/11 the work of

Al Qaida?

Does HIV lead to AIDS?

Does forced abortion existIn Holland?


Citizens talk withthe like-minded

Citizens are not prepared to talk to people with a

different opinion

Citizens are able to select their own information diet

Citizens start living in echo chambers where they hear the same information over

and over again


Liesbet van Zoonen:Changing truth claimsin popular and political culture. European Journalof Communication 2012.

Epistemology:Experts and

science as sources of true

knowledge

I-pistemology:Personal

experience as source of true

knowledge




DILEMMA 3:

FINANCIAL INCENTIVES


The Dutch government spends 2.000.000 euros on campaigns of citizens and

organisations

DOES IT HELP?





News & Politics

Dilemma's rond een EU-referendum