NATO E OPINIÃO PÚBLICA EUROPEIA: FATORES MEDIÁTICOS DEFINIDORES DE CONFIANÇA

Abstract

In a context of international politics undergoing significant changes due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, NATO is reevaluating its role in the European public discourse. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the role of the media in shaping the attitudes of European citizens towards this institution. This research aims to measure the media's role in the adherence of European Union citizens to NATO's actions. To achieve this, indicators such as trust in NATO, trust in traditional and digital media, and the frequency of media usage from the Eurobarometer of January and February 2022 are considered. The Eurobarometer involved a total of 26,681 participants from the 27 EU member states, with representative samples. The main finding of the research suggests that the media plays a significant role in Europeans' adherence to NATO's actions. It was observed that, on the eve of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, most Europeans trusted NATO. Furthermore, the empirical evidence obtained reveals a high likelihood that a European citizen will trust NATO when they trust traditional media. Other relevant results include the fact that trust in digital media, as well as its usage, are good predictors of trust in NATO. Additionally, it is concluded that men, especially those with higher education, constitute the core of European citizens with a greater propensity to trust NATO.