In Europe, pride rarely comes from a single source, and the strength of this pride varies even more from one country to another.
Arts and culture, history, gastronomy, and politics are among the themes mentioned by people in nine EU member states, out of 25 countries, as part of a study by the Pew Research Centre on the reasons why people are proud of their homeland.
Is pride in arts and culture the most common?
When it comes to pride in cultural heritage, including customs and traditions, national symbols, art, and architecture, Italy stands out.
About four out of ten Italians are proud of the arts and culture of their country, praising the heritage of the Renaissance and iconic architecture.
This is the primary source of national pride for Italians, and compared to all other countries studied, Italians are most likely to cite arts and culture as a source of pride.
But Italy is not the only one to hold arts and culture in high esteem: in France, one quarter of adults express pride and praise the craftsmanship of its artists, as well as the “artisans who rebuilt Notre-Dame Cathedral”.
France also stands out as one of the countries where people are most likely to express pride in food, mentioning its cuisine and the ability to “enjoy good wine and cheese”.
The national motto “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” is another element that the French are proud of. About two out of ten French people are proud of the level of freedom in their country, including their “ability to complain”.
Pride in history and people
Greece leads in historical pride, with 37% of those surveyed highlighting their ancient civilization, philosophers, and heroism of their ancestors.
Additionally, a little over one in ten Greeks are also proud of their people, describing them as “hospitable and warm”.
This is a familiar theme in Southern Europe: Spaniards are most proud of the people of their country (32%). They mention solidarity within the population, as well as the “hard-working” and “welcoming” nature of their fellow citizens.
In Hungary, pride is mixed: 23% say they are not proud of their country, while 21% praise its history and 20% have a high opinion of their people.
Poland is proud of its heritage and history, especially its struggle for independence and role in international affairs.
Poles are also proud of the people in their country, praising their diligence and work ethic.
In which areas are citizens proud of their political system and economy?
The political system is a common source of national pride in several high-income countries, especially in Sweden and Germany.
In fact, 53% of Swedes are proud of how their country is governed, the largest proportion citing a single source of national pride in all the countries studied.
Germans are also more likely to say they are proud of their country’s system of government than anything else. Many of them claim that their democracy is “the best” in the world.
Moreover, about two Germans and Dutch out of ten are also proud of their economy and the services provided by their government, such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.
According to the survey, people proud of the services provided by their government mention not only what benefits them personally but also what helps the most vulnerable people in their country.
