UK and the European Union has been heavily dependent on each other regarding trade relations and strategic defense, but lately there has been a complex interplay of different factors which acted as a catalyst behind UK’s decision to exit the European Union (EU).
The rising Euroscepticism is one of the driving forces which led to the outpouring of the votes in favor of Brexit. In fact, the growing populism was one of the major reasons which led to a referendum in the UK in the first place. Euroscepticism dates to the time when Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of UK, had been in power and clearly implied that the ‘UK is only linked to European Union and not combined.’ This ideology was further strengthened when citizens of UK started discrediting the effectiveness of EU over its flawed immigration and border control policies. EU was backlashed for enforcing regulations upon the member states without even analyzing the additional costs which were being incurred. Moreover, the decision-making authority rested in the hands of bureaucracy not even residing in the UK and oblivious to the trends and concerns which the public was raising. To take advantage of the situation, the Eurosceptic politicians were shaping anti-EU opinion in the minds of the citizens by enlightening them of the opportunity costs of investing their budget in the national health care instead of EU. Consequently, his had provoked anti EU sentiments among the masses.
The perceived threat of losing sovereignty and national identity also contributed in the decision to vote out. As per the public opinion, the public was more affiliated with Britain than EU, and had persuaded that they should exercise stringent border controls in order to tackle the migration crisis. To add fuel to the fire, Euroseptic members had supported Brexit and justified their stance by expressing their opinion that sharing political powers with the European Union had posed a serious threat to the sovereignty, and the dire need of hour is to put a restraint on the rapid immigration.
In addition to this, the older age group in Britain had their own insecurities as they felt alienated due to the boundry-less region. They were somewhat socially conservative and heavily criticized immigration policies of the union of grounds that it was having an adverse effect on the economy, and due to an increase in a diverse and skilled work force, the demand for local labor was comparatively low. Moreover, the financial crunch due to euro crisis reflected EU’s poor performance. Furthermore, people who voted in favor of Brexit, being less educated, did not have a sound knowledge of the economic repercussions which were to follow after Brexit.
Therefore, there were multifaceted which contributed in the Brexit, and led to people vote in favor of it.
Britain leaving the European Union did pose a threat to the European Union in a sense that there was an increase trend of populist narrative in the region posing a serious threat on the dominant position of EU, and resulting in an increase in the ideological differences. The passport free movement across the member states of EU had lessened a strong check and balance on the internal movement. Moreover, the union failed to devise a strategy to deal with migrants.
To exacerbate things further, increase political pressure was put on countries like Germany, Poland and Hungary to put a restraint on the immigration, and Brexit was viewed to have a spillover effect in the region and the Sword of Damocles lays on the European Union as it might disintegrate if the anti-migration and populist narratives are strengthened. EU had already suffered the loss of its biggest military power, but we can also not undermine the role of Brexit in being a blessing in disguise for the European union - unifying the member states instead of dividing them and disintegrating the European Union. Member states have witnessed the economic and social repercussions of Brexit which Britain has been facing since Brexit and have no intention to leave the Union. Moreover, after Britain’s exit, France and Germany one of the most influential member states, and less influential member states cannot afford to oppose them. Brexit has brought all of the member states on one page regarding pertinent matters like defense, mitigating conflicts with Russia, and competing against global players like China and India by capturing the global market, enhancing collective security, and striving towards the fulfillment of the objectives laid down by the EU.
Therefore, European Union is not on the brink of disintegration rather maintains its dominant position in the region. However, it should not allow the EU to be content with its working and must bring reforms which could help tackle the growing populist, and antimigration narratives and mitigating anti-EU sentiments among the member states to prevent another exit.
EU must delegate decision making authority to member states in economic matters to ensure democratic legitimacy and allow discretion to the members in such matters instead of interfering in them. Moreover, it must have inclusive policies, and acknowledge and respect the cultural differences among the member states instead of aiming to unify them as one. The union must also not only keep itself informed of the changing trends and public opinion, but should also respect it and address the concerns instead of going against them and digging its own grave by sowing hatred among the masses for ignorance. The Union must also devise policies which strengthen the economic and financial position of weaker member states. It is also advised that the European Union devises a sound plan of action to dampen the migration crisis by keeping a strong check and balance over the border controls.
Contrary to the popular notion, the European is not at a brink of disintegration, and has continued to maintain its established hegemony. The member states of the Union have witnessed the repercussions and challenges which the Britain is facing, after its exit, and would think twice before taking such a drastic step. Several contributing factors like threat to sovereignty, economic challenges, growing Euroscepticism, flawed migration policies of the EU propelled Brexit, but Brexit has been a blessing in disguise for the European Union by uniting the member states rather than dividing them, but measures must be taken by the European Union in the shape of structural reforms which could prevent another exit and deter the threat of disintegration.
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