Tag: BrexitVote
It would be a democratic travesty for Brexit not to be accepted simply because many of us don’t like it
The result of the referendum on the UK’s continued membership of the European Union has upset a great number of people, and some have suggested that the result should not be accepted. Here, Stephen Tierney asks ‘how democratic was the Brexit vote?’ and concludes that to not accept the result would constitute a democratic outrage. […]
Is the EU really run by unelected bureaucrats?
Much of the UK’s referendum debate has focused on the extent to which EU decision-making is democratic, with the European Commission a source of particular criticism from leave campaigners on the basis that it is unelected. Simon Hix writes that while there are legitimate problems with the EU’s system of democracy, there is little to […]
What has the EU ever done for us? Peace, togetherness, investment, and prosperity
The EU referendum is taking place today, with millions flocking to polling stations in order to register a vote for either remaining, or leaving, the EU. Here, Andrew Crines argues that the vote is an opportunity for us to examine what kind of country we want to be, and that EU membership has given us […]
The negativity of the EU Referendum campaign undermines democracy
The referendum debate is not living up to its democratic ideals. Both sides of the divide have focused heavily on negative, fear-based arguments to make their case, which prevent democratic engagement among the electorate. Charlotte Galpin shows how this negativity is inhibiting critical reflection and fostering cynicism. She also notes that the debate is non-inclusive, with […]
A guide to making up your mind in the referendum on EU membership
Andrew Glencross and Paul Cairney give some advice on how to wade through all the information on ‘Brexit’ to make an informed choice. Andrew offers a more thorough discussion in Remain or Leave? A MOOC on the UK Referendum on EU Membership. Similar PostsIt would be a democratic travesty for Brexit not to be accepted […]
Is it really that difficult to find women to talk about the EU Referendum?
The significant absence of expert women’s voices from media debates and academic events related to the EU Referendum has been widely reported. Roberta Guerrina, Toni Haastrup, Katharine Wright share a list of women EU experts and argue there are in fact many women voices on these issues and they are not difficult to find. More work needs to […]
What the UK could learn from Ireland’s EU referendum campaigns
Ireland has held several referendums on EU issues, with both the Treaty of Nice and the Treaty of Lisbon being rejected by the electorate, before subsequently being approved in second referendums. Gavin Barrett outlines five lessons the British government could learn from the Irish experience, including the feasibility of the UK holding its own second […]
Are extroverts more Eurosceptic? How personalities shape attitudes toward the EU
What determines the attitudes of citizens toward the EU? Based on a recent study, Bert Bakker assesses the impact that different types of personality have on EU attitudes. He finds that when survey evidence is compared, there is a clear link between different traits, such as extroversion and agreeableness, and views on the EU. Similar […]
The legitimacy of the EU referendum requires that citizens are informed of the implications of their decision
The campaign over whether to leave the EU or remain a member has predictably focused on matters such as immigration and the economy. However, at stake at the referendum later this year are a set of rights that UK citizens have accrued by virtue of their EU citizenship. Here, Katie Boyle argues that the democratic […]
The Commonwealth is not an alternative to the EU for Britain
Opponents of the UK’s continued membership of the European Union have been known to invoke the Commonwealth as an alternative political and economic union based on Britain’s former empire. Here, Andrew Dilley argues that it is a mistake to do so, with this notion resting on misguided thinking. Similar PostsThe UK’s renegotiation: What a fair […]
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