ABSTRACT
This chapter broadens the findings of the qualitative study of student focus groups via the complementing perspectives of a survey analysis of the corresponding main trends of European citizens’ attitudes towards the European Union (EU), brought down to more specific patterns of the highly educated youth. Moreover, this research outlook takes one step beyond the sheer magnitudes of EU attitudes to disentangle the attitudinal multiplicity into more specific patterns according to conceptions of democracy and citizenship. The conceptions are further pinpointed by linking them to recurring themes of EU goals in the discussions and responses of the youth and differentiating their utilitarian vs. solidary qualities to distinguish both value-related and national variations. The emerging attitudinal patterns come down to six distinct visions of EU democracy based on the dominating citizen perceptions of the EU as a provider of goods and values ranging from democratic principles to economic benefits and stability, mixed up with diverse issues such as security, equality, freedom, and inclusion.
