The EU in the Eyes of Australasia New Findings from Eva Polonska Monash European and EU Centre Monash University

Transcription

1 The EU in the Eyes of Australasia New Findings from Eva Polonska Monash European and EU Centre Monash University

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3 Project Partners Sponsorship Asia-Pacific Research Partners Tsinghua University Fudan University Waseada University National University of Singapore EU Centre in Singapore Korea University Chulalongkorn University University of Malaya Jawaharlal Nehru University Monash University: Eva Polonska Patrick Kimunguyi

4 Methodology Elite Interviews 3 newspapers + 1 TV news bulletin Jan- June 2011 On-line panel March 2012 May-Dec 2011 AU 831 news items 1000 respondents 40 interviews NZ 487 news items 1001 respondents 35 interviews

5 Dataset: 8 Mainstream Media Outlets in Australasia Most widely circulated dailies Business Daily TV News Australia The Australian Herald Sun The Australian Financial Review ABC News at 7 pm New Zealand New Zealand Herald The Press National Business Review (weekly) TV1 at 6pm

6 Media (In)Visibility of the EU Australia New Zealand* China Press TV

7 Media (In)Visibility by outlets monthly average of news items Popular daily 1 Popular daily 2 Business daily TV Australia New Zealand* China

8 International sources of EU news Australia New Zealand China EU-news items (total) International source 28% 63% 15% 1 st Bloomberg AP Reuters 2 nd New York Times Reuters AFP 3 rd AFP The Telegraph AP

9 Centrality of EU in news reportages 100% 90% 80% 70% Minor 60% 50% Secondary 40% 30% Major 20% 10% 0% Australia New Zealand China

10 Focus of EU News (business dailies not included) 100% State of economy: AU, NZ: Eurozone, sovereign debt crisis 50% China: EU as a trade partner in China but NOT much in AU or NZ 0% EU external actions: EU in Arab Spring Australia New Zealand China developmental social economic environmental political

11 Evaluation of EU actions Australia Positive 5% New Zealand Negative 22% Negative 26% Positive 16% Neutral 73% China Neutral 58% Negative 16% Positive 14% Neutral 70%

12 Newspapers: Images

13 Newspapers: Images

14 appearance/month The Lisbon Treaty Effect? Who speaks for the EU? (media) Australia New Zealand China

15 How positively or negatively did Australia and New Zealand general publics perceive the EU? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% Very negative Somewhat negative Neither positive nor negative Somewhat positive Very positive 10% 0% Australia New Zealand China

16 Is the EU aggressive? (Public Opinion in AU + NZ) Is the EU aggressive? - China Is the EU arrogant? (Public Opinion in AU + NZ) Yes 30% No 15% Yes 35% No 19% Not sure 46% Yes 19% No 27% Not sure 55% Is the EU likeable? (Public Opinion in AU + NZ) Not sure 54% Is the EU arrogant? - China Yes 29% Not sure 46% No 25% Yes 23% Not sure 53% No 24% Is the EU Likeable? - China No 34% Yes 16% Not sure 50%

17 Public Opinion - Most Important Partners Australia New Zealand China 1st China Australia US 2nd US China Russia 3rd Japan US EU EU 6 th 6 th 3 rd

18 Images associated with the term European Union (Public Opinion) 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Australia New Zealand Europe Greece France Germany China Europe Union France/ Germany

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20 Elite interviews: Is EU a great power? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% No Yes 20% 10% 0% Australia New Zealand China

21 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Elite interviews: Economically, they are sort of stuffed. Is EU a great Politically power? they can t agree on much and as a military power I would have It s a world superpower, in trade, though they are far less influential business, investment, FDI. If than you look they at have ever been (Business who is India s trading partner, elite, it is New the EU. Zealand) Who is Australia s second biggest partner? It is the EU Um, so like it or not it s a powerhouse.(media elite, Australia) No Yes 20% 10% 0% Australia I see it as a diminishing power to put it bluntly. China, India, they are going to New China be the future economies of the world. Zealand (Business elite, New Zealand)

22 Elite interviews: Is EU a leader in international politics? 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% No Yes 30% 20% 10% 0% Australia New Zealand China

23 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% Elite interviews: I see individual countries unfortunately. Germany playing a big role, France playing a Is EU big role, a UK leader stepping in in when international their interests politics? are compromised, and yeah when it suits 100% them. (Political elite, Australia) You don t often see the EU as taking the initiative in solving some significant global or regional issues. It tends to be others such as the US or a small number of EU states. (Civil Society Noelite, NZ) Well I think they are such a big bloc 20% Politically it doesn t seem to that they can t not be a leader in act as a great 10% power that it international politics. Well they are a should be. It leader in agricultural politics, trade 0% doesn t seem to be able to find the unity politics, international aid (Business Australia it New Zealand elite, New China needs. (Media elite, Australia) Zealand) Yes

24 Elite interviews: Images 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Australia (financial) Crisis Integration/ Unification Economic/ Trade Disunity New Zealand Integration/ Unification Diversity Bureaucracy (financial) Crisis China Integration/ Unification Economic/ Trade Developed

25 Key findings Member States still seen as political leaders Diminishing importance of Europe for Australia (often regrettably) High regard for European: Culture and values Sophistication and innovation (Australia only) Asia gaining importance for political and business elites News coverage is also predicted to shift towards Asia Eurozone Crisis (elites perceptions and media coverage)