United Kingdom’s Leaving Referendum From the European Union: Brexit

Abstract

United Kingdom which has an ongoing relationship with the European Union since 1973 has generallyhad problematic relations during the membership process. A country who does not play a part in theearly European integration process keeps wary eye to the process she joins lately. This turbulent anddetached relationship brings the membership process which mostly contains sharp discussions to anunexpected breakpoint. Brexit has been the most important milestone in the United Kingdom-theEuropean Union relations. Therefore, examining the process through Brexit, its reasons and resultswill help understand the issue better. Given this goal, therefore, this study aims to deal with the Brexitprocess in detail and contribute to the existing literature. Process beginning with the reform requestsby Conservative Party in relations with the European Union in 2013 resulted in a referendum with51.9% leaving decision on June 23, 2016. In the Brexit referendum which proceeds from the populistand unreal discourses, Conservative Party and United Kingdom Independence Party have been theactors managing the whole process. Even these two political parties conduct different campaigns onthe EU membership which they turn it into a domestic policy tool; they have eventually completedthe process. Thus, for the first time, a member state decided to enter leaving process in the EuropeanUnion’s history. In this framework, this study initially deals with the historical background of theUnited Kingdom-the European Union relations and causes of Brexit. Then, economic effects of Brexiton United Kingdom and roles of Conservative Party and United Kingdom Independence Party in thisprocess were mentioned. Lastly, leaving process was chronologically examined and the steps of leavingprocess and the progress were shown. The process which happens for the first time in the EU historyhas been shaped by the EU’s relevant institutions joint with the UK’s authorities. Similar to a candidatecountry’s membership process, the leaving negotiations have been going on between the EU and theUK. As a conclusion, it is indicated that Brexit has negative effects on politics and economy of UnitedKingdom. Economic-wise, the study shows that the UK economy has been affected negatively in theshort-run in addition the negative expectations in the long-run. Political-wise, on the other hand,Conservative Party and United Kingdom Independence Party that have taken place in every stage ofthe process have gone up in flames and led their leaders who conducted referendum campaigns toabandon politics. Consequently, after a referendum without an exact winner, it is also unclear whathappens after the Brexit process.