The Rise of Interventionism in the European Union and its Social Foundations

Based on the European Values Study, this article shows that the rejection of economic liberalism is not an epiphenomenon resulting from the 2007 crisis, but has been an underlying trend across the European Union since the 1990s. By examining attitudes towards the state, it shows that almost all Europeans became more interventionist between 1990 and 2008. Since the economic and political characteristics of individuals had a combined influence, this article emphasizes that social vulnerability is not always a sufficient condition for support for the state. Several similarities between the micro- and macrosociological levels are also observed. While the most vulnerable Europeans are the most supportive of the state, those living in countries with the greatest inequality are more likely to develop social demands. The few countries where interventionism is declining are those where confidence in institutions tends to be diminishing; thus also revealing the symbolic foundations of demands on the state.