An Ideological Fracture in Europe on Almost Every Major Social Issue

This new study from the Pew Research Center on 34 European countries reveals a Europe divided into two sides on all the major societal issues; on one side are the countries of eastern and central Europe, and those of western Europe are on the other side.

To offer just a few examples: with regards to the integration of Islam, the countries of the former Soviet bloc – including Russia – are mostly opposed to the idea of welcoming a Muslim into their family, unlike the countries of western Europe.

The questions of civil unions between homosexuals and “legal” abortion highlight the same rupture: 7% of the Swedish are opposed to “marriage for all”, compared to 90% of the Russians. 17% of the French say they are against abortion, compared to 56% in Russia and 85% in Georgia. 

The rift in the importance of Christian roots is identical: 82% of the Armenians believe the Armenian identity is inseparable from Christianity, but only 32% of the French share this opinion about their own identity… 

We must point out, however, that Portugal presents an exception on this particular issue: 62% of the Portuguese consider their identity as closely connected with Catholicism. Doubtless a sign of consolation for the country of Our Lady of Fatima…