ABSTRACT
Anecdotal evidence alone suggests that countries like Portugal and Ireland have been transformed during their time in the European Union. There is evidence that voters do approach European integration by seeking to weigh up rationally the costs and benefits involved in supporting or opposing it. Shared nationality is what ultimately underscores all European welfare states. The welfare state can be seen as a form of mutual insurance; it depends on a sense of empathy between contributors and recipients. Sweden had that shared nationality, and upon it its Social Democrats proceeded to build a universal welfare system of which they were immensely proud. Usually, political parties find a balance between the interests of their elites, grass-roots and other constituent organisations. Elites may want the power and material rewards of holding office, but they cannot be so opportunistic in pursuing them as to alienate their more idealistic followers.
