Why Brexit Happened – and What to Do Next

In 2016, 52 percent of voters in the United Kingdom (UK) chose to leave the EU, while 48 percent voted to remain. Those who voiced the need to leave the EU (which politicians and the British press called Brexit) cited concerns about immigration, resentment toward interference and rule-making from Brussels, and a desire for better border controls. The withdrawal took effect in 2020, but contentious political issues, such as the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland (which is part of the UK) remain.

The Brexit response reflects the devolutionary forces we explored in Section 2.2, which constitute a response to globalization.

Watch this video, which considers the role globalization played in Brexit in 2016. The presenter argues that Brexit is simply one example of the theme that inequality is a frequent by-product of globalization.