The UK’s decision to leave the European Union (EU) is one of the most significant geopolitical events in modern European history. When slightly over half of the UK’s voting citizens decided to opt-out of the EU in June 2016, the decision was likely to impact various aspects of the continent’s future. Certainly, the EU has gone through various challenging seasons throughout its existence, but to have one of its major powers leave was unprecedented.
While the vote took place in 2016, the UK officially left the trading bloc in January 2020. However, as both sides were still negotiating the terms of the exit, they decided to keep things the same until the end of 2020. An agreement was reached on the 24th December 2020, meaning that on the first day of 2021, new rules would dictate how the EU and UK interacted with each other.
Since the Brexit decision was made, numerous reactions and commentaries have been published. Associate Professor Jake Lynch, a pioneer of peace journalism who works at the Department of Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney, is one of those who have weighed in on the topic. In an article for Transcend Media Service, Professor Lynch delves into some of the undertones involved in the decision and its effect on the UK.
One of his observations is that the proponents of Brexit have not entirely convinced people of how the decision leaves British society in a better place. Instead, a lot of the conversation has contained toxic myths that have been used to draw people into “voting away their rights and against their interests.” Professor Lynch recounts interactions with ordinary citizens on the issue, and their responses portray a lack of deep understanding of the problems at hand and the implications for leaving.
The Future
While Brexit has its advocates, both within and outside British borders, it can also serve as the start of a new chapter for the EU, Professor Lynch argues. Without London, the EU has options for a new front, including aligning under French and German leadership on fiscal matters. Deeper integration of EU states could also happen, with many member states galvanised by a dislike for the UK’s decision. Against such a perspective, the members could unite and step up to forge a stronger union in the years ahead.