Where, what, and why we are proud of the country we live in.
What makes us proud of our country? It depends on where the question is asked. In Europe, for example, the answer given by the majority of those who live in Greece is history. For those who live in Spain, it is people. In France, culture, and in the Netherlands, freedom. It is the US-based Pew Research Center – which focuses on examining social issues, demographic trends and major current affairs – that outlines the picture in a recent study carried out on more than 30,000 adults living in one of the 25 countries involved.
In the Old Continent in general, there is a tendency to recognize and appreciate above all the shared heritage of the past. The main factors of national pride recorded, in fact, fall mainly into the categories of history, culture and people. But, as is only natural, given the profound variety existing within its borders, Europe is not lacking in nuances.
Both among the different areas and in the levels at which certain choices appear. And, among other things, not always in positive terms. Above all, the South shows great pride in history. This is the first choice not only among those who live in Greece (it is indicated by 37% of adults), but also the second choice for those residing in Turkey (12%). Here, with 20% of preferences, the majority of adults indicate that they are proud of people.
Culture is the preferred choice both in Italy and in France. It is indicated, above all, respectively by 38% and 26% of the participants living in the two nations. Both across the Alps and in the boot-shaped country, although with slightly lower percentages, people still represent a significant reason for pride: 24% and 23% of cases.
Turning our gaze towards Central and Northern Europe, the picture becomes more varied. Meanwhile, in the country of windmills, as we said, if freedom is the characteristic indicated with the highest percentages (24%), in second and third place are the economy and politics (both at 21%). The category of politics makes Sweden a unique case: the number of respondents indicating this preference reaches 53%. A record, both for the specific choice and compared with any other category across the entire sample analyzed worldwide.
In the Nordic country, the categories landscape (32%) and, once again, people (26%) also reach significant shares. Although, as in Sweden, politics is also the majority choice in Germany, here it is indicated by “only” 36% of respondents. Next, but with lower percentages, the factors of pride are the economy (19%) and freedom (16%).
As we mentioned, the multiplicity of the European picture is also evident in the spread of negative feelings. According to the US-based research center, in fact, a certain political dissatisfaction leads people to report less flattering assessments of the situation in their own country. Positions that emerge particularly (but not only) among those who feel disconnected from the ruling class in charge.
Before looking more closely at these aspects, it is necessary to remember that the research, conducted in the first half of the year, does not include some specific epochal changes that could have had an impact on changing the prevailing feelings. For example, the victory of Péter Magyar over Viktor Orbán in Hungary could have slightly changed things. At the time the data were collected, however, negative responses among Hungarians reached 23%. They stood at 29% among those residing in the United Kingdom and were also present in Spain (25%) and Greece (19%).
In conclusion, a quick look at Italy. If here, as we said, the majority of adults involved in the study are proud of national culture, 24% are proud of the landscape. And, with just one percentage point less, 23% appreciate the people who live in the boot-shaped country.