How Distance Impacts Perception of European Politics: New Evidence from Psychological Experiments

For decades, the EU has been accused of being too distant and too far away for its citizens. Various discussions within the democratic deficit literature have highlighted that the distance between the EU and its population, also in geographical terms, matters for political legitimacy and political efficacy.  However, it has been very hard for research to point to the exact causal mechanisms that reveal this pattern of dissatisfaction or lack of legitimization, and show exactly if and how people feel alienated from EU politics due to its geographical, administrative and/or political distance. Through a set of unique survey and laboratory experiments in Denmark, this paper explores how various parameters of distancing impact individuals’ perception of politics in general, and politics towards the EU in particular. By comparing the EU level of politics with the national and local political level, this paper reveals the different ways various parameters linked to distance impact feelings of democratic efficacy (internal and external efficacy) and political trust. This way, the paper contributes by shedding light into one of the “black boxes” of European politics; how the broader distance between the political center and its populations impact every day political wellbeing of its citizen.