ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an empirical angle that sheds light over one of the key aspects of this volume: European identity reflected on a more engaged citizenry. And it does so within the context of Spain. There is a growing line of research explaining the existence of a European identity or multiple transnational identities. In recent years scholars have assessed the influence of people’s media use in relation to important aspects of the European political realm. Research has shown that news consumption is positively related to certain attitudes (e.g. interpersonal discussion), mediating the effects toward political participation. Similarly, scholars have also provided evidence of the importance of social identity in issues pertaining to in-group/out-group relations and its potential in the participatory arena. However, in the context of the EU, little consideration has been paid to all these issues as one incorporated global model. Analyzing Spanish national data, this chapter provides insights into the effects of the mass media, and the internet in particular, towards the creation of a more cohesive and politically engaged European citizenry. In short, this chapter serves as an empirical case study of the relation between European integration and political cultures.
