Fiscal and Military Solidarity Among European Publics: Religion, Social Mobilization, Identity, and Ideology

“Solidarity” is one of the most common and most contested concepts in scholarship on the European Union. The idea has been investigated by historians, legal scholars, philosophers, ethicists, and social scientists. Although empirical studies of solidarity among European publics are increasing, especially on issues such as sharing fiscal resources and regulating immigration, we know less about other types, such as providing military assistance to other EU nations, an issue raised by the Russian invasions of Ukraine. We examine EU citizens’ reaction to solidarity on fiscal and military policy, drawing from a 2020 survey of eight member states. The considerable diversity of opinion on both issues is explained by religious affiliation and observance, socioeconomic status, evaluation of national and EU institutions, as well as ideology and values. The influences in each instance are similar, but by no means identical, suggesting that the sources of support for transnational solidarity vary by policy area.