A Crystal Seen From Each of Its Vertices: European Views of European National Characters

Abstract

Europeans from 15 locations share a similar image of the national characters of each other and of nations outside of Europe, an image organized on the dimensions of modernity and self-control. Variation of the shared image is complexly patterned: Nations that are geographically close are judged similarly, especially if they are relatively far away from the judge. Similarly, judges that are close judge similarly, especially if the target nations are relatively far away. Conversely, neighboring nations are differentiated much more than those far away. Although the chauvinism of the responses is muted, antagonisms with neighbors are often pronounced, especially between those with a history of warfare. The high agreement on this complex picture suggests that these stereotypes are not merely the product of prejudice; the stereotypes are more nuanced and more widely shared than one would expect if each of the groups were merely reveling in its own superiority.