Mapping Scottish and Welsh Parliamentarians' Attitudes to European Integration, 2001

The principal aim of the research was to test and further refine the hypothesis that the divisions so apparent on Europe, especially <i>within</i> British political parties, are most pronounced along fault lines defined by disagreements over the importance of either maintaining national sovereignty, or of embracing an increasing interdependence with our European partners. The researchers wanted to examine if such a hypothesis would hold for the newly created 'subnational' institutions in Scotland and Wales with nationalist parties putatively positively bubbling with enthusiasm for European integration. Indeed, the received wisdom is one of both nations having a greater enthusiasm for Europe than that found at Westminster. Thus, such an enquiry would contribute to knowledge and understanding of the ideological configuration of Welsh and Scottish Parliamentarians over the European issue and further add to existing empirical data and knowledge on attitudes of Westminster parliamentarians.<br>