Perceived constraints from European and international integration: citizens’ feeling of being represented and turnout

A burgeoning literature suggests that the loss of autonomy of national representatives induced by supranational integration – i.e. European integration and globalization, ultimately depresses turnout. However, few studies have theorized, and tested, the mechanisms underlying this relationship at the individual level. In this article, we test the representational linkage mechanism which contends that the loss of autonomy fosters abstention by acting upon citizens’ feeling of being represented. We put this proposition to the test using an original cross-national dataset combining perceptions of constraints with measures of feelings of being represented. Our results indicate a negative correlation between perceived constraints and feelings of being represented. Interestingly, our analysis shows that perceived constraints from globalization have a stronger downward effect on feelings of being represented compared to perceptions of EU constraints. Most importantly, we find that perceiving constraints decrease the positive effect of the feeling of being represented on electoral participation.