Differing Views of Eurozone Membership

Since the onset of its economic crisis, Europe has been marked by widening divides over the eurozone's goals and structure. In recent months, a new split has emerged: The populations of countries on the eurozone's periphery — those feeling the sharpest sting of austerity measures — still widely support the common currency. Meanwhile, euroskeptic narratives that reject some of Europe's fundamental structures — namely the free movement of people, goods and services — have been gaining support in Europe's wealthier core countries.

But peripheral support for the currency bloc is likely shaded by hopes of a return to Europe's pre-crisis environment. And the core's insistence on austerity measures and economic reforms makes such a return unlikely in the near future. Such conflicting views appear likely to undermine policies designed to deal with the crisis and threaten the very foundations of the European Union.